3 Thai royal insult prisoners freed after pardon

AFP, BANGKOK: Three Thai women convicted of insulting the monarchy were released from jail Saturday after receiving royal pardons, a human rights lawyer said, following years spent behind bars for violating the draconian law. Thailand’s lese majeste law is among the world’s harshest, punishing any perceived criticism of the monarchy with up to 15 years per offence.
Cases have skyrocketed under the ultra-royalist junta that seized power in 2014, with more than 60 people facing trials since the power grab, mostly in military courts.
The law has also been interpreted with an increasingly broad scope. One man was arrested in December for making sarcastic comments about the king’s late dog.
“Three women prisoners who were jailed for lese majeste were freed today after receiving a royal pardon,” Weeranan Huadsri, from the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, told AFP.
But the reprieve, granted in the wake of Queen Sirikit’s August 12 birthday, did not come until after the prisoners had already served years behind bars.

 

3 Thai royal insult prisoners freed after pardon

AFP, BANGKOK: Three Thai women convicted of insulting the monarchy were released from jail Saturday after receiving royal pardons, a human rights lawyer said, following years spent behind bars for violating the draconian law. Thailands lese majeste law is among the worlds harshest, punishing any perceived criticism of the monarchy with up to 15 years per offence. Cases have skyrocketed under the ultra-royalist junta that seized power in 2014, with more than 60 people facing trials since the power grab, mostly in military courts. The law has also been interpreted with an increasingly broad scope. One man was arrested in December for making sarcastic comments about the kings late dog. Three women prisoners who were jailed for lese majeste were freed today after receiving a royal pardon, Weeranan Huadsri, from the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, told AFP. But the reprieve, granted in the wake of Queen Sirikits August 12 birthday, did not come until after the prisoners had already served years behind bars.