King Bhumibol pardons American

By Editorial
Posted in Short news
Tags: ,
July 11, 2012

Thailand's King Bhumibol has pardoned an American convicted of lèse majesté. That's what the US embassy has in it Thailand announced.

Car dealer Joe Gordon offended the king by sharing parts of the in Thailand prohibited from translating biography 'The King Never Smiles' into Thai and publishing it online from the US. When Gordon in May last year Thailand was for medical treatment, he was arrested. In December he was sentenced to 2,5 years in prison.

The 84-year-old king stands in Thailand on a pedestal. People convicted of insulting the king, queen or heir to the throne can count on long prison terms as standard.

Source: NOS

5 Responses to “King Bhumibol Pardons American”

  1. Mike37 says up

    Then you can check how much pressure there has been from the American side, which has responded.

    • @ Mike, it doesn't matter. Almost all foreigners convicted of lèse-majesté are pardoned after a few months. You will be deported from the country and declared an undesirable alien.

    • Peter Holland says up

      No, Miek, no pressure at all from the Americans, who do scream bloody murder when it comes to Burma or China.
      The best man of Thai descent who has lived in the US for 30 years is 'just' a political prisoner.
      However, if only because he is Thai by origin, he should have known better.

  2. William Van Doorn says up

    It seems to me that - to put it mildly - this King of Thailand is truly a great man. I have already remarked on the subject of lèse-majeste: "Ask the king himself". Now no one will, perhaps, so that the king could remain silent. But to speak as he has now spoken is golden. That in spite of the stupid sphinx saying that silence is golden.

  3. TH.NL says up

    Apparently a sign that the king himself does not fully agree with that law that may be applied inappropriately and inappropriately. By the way, that Joe is stupid. Surely he should have known better.


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