Thai man's prison term for royal insult extended to 50 years




 

A Thai court has extended the prison sentence of a man convicted of criticizing the country’s king to a total of 50 years. The sentence was given under Thailand’s strict lese-majeste law, which protects King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the royal family from criticism. The law allows a maximum punishment of up to 15 years in prison for each offense.

The man, Phuritikon Sarakul, was first sentenced to 30 years for social media posts made between 2021 and 2022. Earlier, he had already received a 20-year sentence for separate online posts. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, this combined 50-year sentence is one of the harshest punishments ever given under Section 112 of Thailand’s penal code.

Since 2020, hundreds of people have been charged under this law. Some individuals have received long prison terms, though a few have later been released through royal pardons. The issue of reforming the royal insult law has been debated in Thai politics, but recent elections showed limited public discussion about changing the law.

Source : https://e.vnexpress.net/news/world/thai-man-s-prison-term-for-royal-insult-extended-to-50-years-5039875.html

Comprehension

What law was used to sentence Phuritikon Sarakul?
How many total years in prison was he sentenced to?
What actions led to his conviction?
What is the maximum sentence per offense under Thailand’s royal insult law?
How has the issue of this law been connected to Thai politics?

Discussion

Why do some countries create laws that protect kings, presidents, or national symbols from criticism?
What are the benefits and risks of having strict laws about public speech?
Should freedom of speech have limits? If yes, what kinds of limits are reasonable?
How is criticizing a public leader different from spreading harmful or false information?
Do you think social media should be treated the same as newspapers or television under the law? Why or why not?
How can governments balance respect for cultural traditions with individual rights?
What might be the impact of long prison sentences on society and public opinion?
How can citizens express disagreement respectfully in countries with strict laws?

Vocabulary

Convicted – Officially found guilty of a crime by a court
Sentence – The punishment given by a court
Lese-majeste – A law that makes it illegal to insult a monarch
In absentia – Tried or sentenced while not present in court
Pardon – An official decision to forgive a crime and cancel the punishment