Somyot Pruksakasemsuk is a journalist in prison. He is a prisoner of conscience. He was convicted of publishing two articles in an anti-establishment magazine that made negative references to the crown. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and has been in prison since his initial arrest on April 30,2011. He has always been denied bail.
There are several political prisoners sentenced to jail under lèse majesté. The only way to get released is to admit guilt. Somyot has refused to admit guilt. He has done nothing wrong. He tells stories about the conditions in jail. The prisoners have to wear chains on both legs which weigh 5 kg. The prisoners have to clean the chains regularly otherwise they go rusty and people’s legs become infected. According to Somyot, standard practices in jail are mainly designed to reduce the humanity of prisoners. “If you are in jail you are treated like an animal”.
Another lèse majesté prisoner, anti-royalist activist Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul, better known as Da Torpedo, has been in jail longer than Somyot. She has been denied proper medical treatment and has also been physically attacked in prison.
The lèse majesté law in Thailand represents a gross attack on the freedom of speech, freedom of expression and academic freedom. It is a fundamental attack on democracy carried out by the military, royalist judges and bureaucrats, and all the political elites, including Thaksin Shinawatra and the ruling Pheu Thai Party. Full story...
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There are several political prisoners sentenced to jail under lèse majesté. The only way to get released is to admit guilt. Somyot has refused to admit guilt. He has done nothing wrong. He tells stories about the conditions in jail. The prisoners have to wear chains on both legs which weigh 5 kg. The prisoners have to clean the chains regularly otherwise they go rusty and people’s legs become infected. According to Somyot, standard practices in jail are mainly designed to reduce the humanity of prisoners. “If you are in jail you are treated like an animal”.
Another lèse majesté prisoner, anti-royalist activist Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul, better known as Da Torpedo, has been in jail longer than Somyot. She has been denied proper medical treatment and has also been physically attacked in prison.
The lèse majesté law in Thailand represents a gross attack on the freedom of speech, freedom of expression and academic freedom. It is a fundamental attack on democracy carried out by the military, royalist judges and bureaucrats, and all the political elites, including Thaksin Shinawatra and the ruling Pheu Thai Party. Full story...
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- Lese majeste charge for selling VCD of Thai royal family...
- Student in Thailand faces prison for "having opinions" about the king...
- Killing in the name of Thailand's king...
- Thai activist jailed for seven and a half years for royal 'insult'
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