Summary
Thai police arrested US academic Paul Chambers on charges of insulting the monarchy and violating computer crime laws, linked to remarks made during an online seminar.
Chambers, a political science professor at Naresuan University, was summoned after a complaint by the Thai Army.
He denied the charges and was denied bail, with no trial date set. Thailand enforces strict lèse-majesté laws under Article 112, carrying up to 15 years in prison.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Thailand’s lèse majesté laws are very strict. The government treats insults to the monarchy as a harm to the entire country.
Just don’t do it! If you’re not a Thai person then what business do you have with the monarchy anyway?
Thats a dumb line. You should be able to criticize anyone, especially those in power
Sure but if you go to Thailand and do it you’ll go to jail. It’s well known. If you don’t like it don’t go to Thailand.
Also, while I’m not defending the law, Thais are extremely reverent to their royal family. It’s part of their cultural identity. It’s not like Britain or something where the royals are merely tolerated.
It’s such a shame when people downvote factual things, simply because they don’t like to hear them.
In this case it’s especially poignant, since the topic is about a person that censors and/or punishes people who say things they don’t like.
Meh. I think I have a personal downvoter that downvotes everything I say on principle. No biggie.