From the Sydney Morning Herald:
Harry Nicolaides, the Australian facing three years in jail for insulting the Thai monarchy, has been recommended for a royal pardon by Thai corrections department officials. …
Thai corrections department officials said yesterday that a recommendation had been made for a royal pardon from King Bhumipol Adulyadej. But the complete documentation was still to be finalised, the department said. The investigation was in the final stages, with further evidence pending from the court.
A spokesman said: “We are waiting for evidence from the court and we will make a petition to the minister and then send it to the king. We continue to recommend pardoning Harry [but the process] is not finished yet. We are waiting for when we get the evidence, then it will be finished to sign, then continue to the king.”
A one-month limit for Nicolaides’s lawyers to lodge an appeal to his jail sentence lapses this week. Once passed, this would allow for the pardon to be presented to the Justice Minister and then to the royal palace. Corrections department officials said notification of the pardon could take place within the next month.
A human rights lawyer, Somchai Homlaor, said the department’s recommendation was very important in that it would clear the way for the granting of a pardon. “I believe that with this recommendation [Nicolaides] will be granted a pardon from His Majesty.” …
8 responses so far ↓
1 Socratis // Feb 17, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Good news indeed.
This shows that there is still some sense in the Thai authority involved in Lèse majesté cases. While this may never repair the damage done, it certainly eases up the tension surrounding the case. I see it as a good gesture extended by the Thai people towards foreigners as have been done in many cases before Harry Nicolaides. But don’t look at it as a step in the direction of abolishment of the Lèse majesté law. As I see it, Thailand is still a long way from that.
2 Frank G Anderson // Feb 17, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Not sure if this is welcome by all, but I think that given Harry’s book, and his efforts at writing it, and the fact that it has been sent to a lot of people via email, that it would be a nice gesture if those who received it are able to provide some sort of compensation for Harry for their copy. The Free Harry website has a bank account no., but not certain whether this is the best way to go. Any comments or suggestions?
Frank
3 Ralph Kramden // Feb 17, 2009 at 10:27 pm
How come the process was different for Jufer? Or at least that seems the to have been the case. Sure, Jufer initially pleaded guilty, but the authorities don’t seem to have waited a full month for the appeal process for Jufer before sending him back to Switzerland. All very opaque. My presumption is that this has to do with who was said to have been slighted and to send a warning message.
4 Observer // Feb 18, 2009 at 9:46 am
Dear Ralph, I think this has to do with “political timing” of each case.
Dear Socratis, “This shows that there is still some sense in the Thai authority involved in Lèse majesté cases. ” What sense? A good sense of justice or a good one of political maneuvering for their own benefits?
Justice? I doubt very much that Da Torpedo would even get bail, let along a consideration to let her go. I doubt if two other Thais who also plead guilty would get pardoned the same way Nicolaides is being considered. (At least the news doesn’t mention them at all. Only Nicolaides is the case.)
With Nocolaides out soon, the annoying noise from Down Under would hopefully subside, if not completely gone. On the other hand, pardons to Thais would send an entirely different message domestically.
The only “sense” Thai authorities have in the lese majeste case may have nothing to do with justice.
5 Ralph Kramden // Feb 18, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Observer: “political timing”? No, it has to do with who was claiming to be insulted and the message that this case sends to others who want to write about this guy’s private life.
6 Somsak Jeamteerasakul // Feb 19, 2009 at 1:40 am
I was going to make some remark on the comparison with Jufer’s case, that I saw Khun Ralp and Observer already mentioned it.
I’m not sure the difference between the two cases has to do with “political timing” as Observer said (not sure what that means either).
I suspect that it has more to do with the royal family’s (especially the King’s) connection with Switzerland. Jufer was released within days after the conviction, if I remember correctly.
I also suspect that the alledged ‘target’ of less majesty acts in the two cases are differenct, the King in one case, the Crown Prince in another. (I cannot elaborate on this point, just to be on the safe side.)
7 Somsak Jeamteerasakul // Feb 19, 2009 at 1:44 am
I should add that I believe Harry’s case has been made a sort of ‘example’ to intimidate any possible future ‘trangression’ by ‘farangs’. He’s perfect for such role: not a well-known or ‘high-standing’ figure and no political connection.
8 Socratis // Mar 6, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Observer “The only “sense” Thai authorities have in the lese majeste case may have nothing to do with justice.” I agree with that. What I meant by sense was that everybody benefits from the pardon. Harry’s free. The Thai authority and the palace get what they want.
I’ve never seen any Thai accused of LM get a royal pardon. Like you said, pardons to Thais would send an entirely different message domestically. So all the Thais can be expected to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
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