Guwahati News Desk: A Thailand court on Tuesday sentenced a woman to a record prison term of 43 years and six months for violating the country’s strict law on insulting or defaming the monarchy.
According to the group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, the woman who is a former civil servant was found guilty by Bangkok Criminal Court on 29 counts of violating the country’s lese majeste law for posting audio clips to Facebook and YouTube with comments deemed critical of the monarchy.
Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher for the group Human Rights Watch said, “Today’s court verdict is shocking and sends a spine-chilling signal that not only criticisms of the monarchy won’t be tolerated, but they will also be severely punished.”
Violating Article 112 or Thailand’s lese majeste law is punishable by three to 15 years’ imprisonment per count.
This law is most controversial not only because it has been used to punish things as simple as liking a post on Facebook but also because anyone can lodge a complaint that can tie the person accused up in legal proceedings for years.
