By Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch, Asia
BANGKOK, Thailand — Lerpong Wichaicommart, an American citizen, was arrested last Tuesday for defaming the Thai King through the use of his blog. Wichaicommart, who also goes by “Joe Gordon,” is accused of posting a link to the book “The King Never Smiles,” written by American journalist Paul M. Handley and published by Yale University Press. The book, which is banned in Thailand, takes a critical look at the actions of King Bhumibol during his reign.
Furthermore, in an interview with the New York Times, Tharit Pengdit, the director of Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation, said “He violated the law by writing articles and posted them on a website.”
Wichaicommart has been charged with lèse majesté, inciting unrest and disobedience of the law in public, and disseminating computer data which threatens national security. Lèse majesté prohibits anyone from defaming, insulting or threatening the king, queen, or crown prince. The debate about the recent aggressive enforcement of the law is expected to heat up this summer as parliamentary elections take place July 3.
Over twenty Department of Special Investigation officers arrested Wichaicommart at his house in Nakhon Ratchasima, confiscated his desktop computer and mobile phone, and transferred him to department headquarters in Bangkok for interrogation. Wichaicommart’s friends brought a land deed worth over 1.7 million baht as bail to release Wichaicommart but the court denied bail, citing that this was a serious case concerning national security, and that the accused might tamper with evidence reported the Thai-language prachatai.com news website.
Prior to his arrest, Wichaicommart taught English to children. Wichaicommart was born in Thailand but settled in Colorado more than thirty years ago. Wichaicommart never planned on returning to Thailand he said, but chose to come back to his hometown to receive treatment for an illness after the death of his wife.
BBC’s Rachel Harvey said free speech advocates claim the law is being misused to silence legitimate debate. Charges have also been brought against a Thai academic who has publically called for the reform of monarchy, and a prominent opposition politician who is a leader of the anti-government “red shirt” movement. A BBC correspondent said that approximately 2,000 web addresses are being blocked by state censors for containing links or references deemed offensive to the monarchy.
While the U.S. Embassy is still gathering information on the charges, an official from the embassy visited Wichaicommart in prison and told him the embassy will try to help him as much as possible.
For more information, please see:
BBC Asia-Pacific — Thailand arrests US citizen for ‘insult to monarchy’ 27 May, 2011
New York Times — American Arrested for Insulting Thai King 27 May, 2011
Asian Correspondent — American arrested in Thailand for posting link on blog [updated] 27 May, 2011
Prachatai — A Thai with American citizenship arrested for lèse majesté and denied bail 27 May, 2011
