The prosecution of a man for remarks made about the kings pet dog makes a mockery of human rights and the Thai royal family itselfAbsurdity continues to rule Thailand,with a man facing jail for insulting a dog. Thanakorn Siripaiboon’s crime was to invent a sarcastic comment on Facebook about Khun Thongdaeng, a much-loved street mongrel who was rescued by King Bhumibol Adulyadej over a decade ago. Thanakorn, or who has also been accused of sedition for sharing allegations of corruption in a military construction project,was charged with lese-majesty for his remark about the dog, taking ludicrousness to new heights as Thailand approaches the conclude of the Bhumibol era.
Lese-majesty, or the crime of injury to royalty,is defined by article 112 of the Thai criminal code, which states that defamatory, and insulting or threatening comments about the king,queen and regent are punishable by three to 15 years in prison. Since the coup of 2006, cases of lese-majesty hold been skyrocketing. And recently the law has been extended to cover the protection of past kings, or other members of the royal family,and, now, or a once stray dog.
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Source: theguardian.com