Swiss Man Pleads Guilty To Insulting Thai King

[george]

Swiss man pleads guilty to insulting Thai king

CHIANG MAI: -- A Swiss man pleaded guilty Monday to criminal charges of insulting Thailand's king by vandalising pictures of him, a serious offense in a nation where the monarch is revered.

Oliver Jufer, 57, was arrested on December 5 for defacing several of the king's ubiquitous portraits with spray paint during a drunken spree through the northern city of Chiang Mai, some 700 kilometres (400 miles) north of Bangkok.

He was charged with lese majeste and destruction of public property. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison, according to court officials.

"He pleaded guilty, and the court set a date for the verdict on March 29," one court official said.

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world's longest-reigning monarch, and one of the only who is still protected by tough lese majeste charges that prohibit any insult to the royal family.

Thai law allows anyone to file a lese majeste complaint with the police, which makes people reluctant to engage in any sort of public conversation about the king or his family.

Jufer's alleged crime came during an especially sensitive period in Thailand, with the nation swept up in royal fever since the king's 60th anniversary on the throne in June last year. He turns 80 in December this year.

His portrait hangs in every public building, and shrines to the king dot the sidewalks in major cities.

Millions of Thais still wear yellow shirts to honor the king every Monday, the day of the week when he was born.

Public concern about the king's health has run high since he underwent back surgery in July, a procedure described by doctors as a success but which forced Thais to begin to consider the delicate question of who should succeed him.

--AFP 2007-03-12

[Scott]

I am bewildered by this mans actions. This kind of vandalism is generally seen in the 20-something crowd that drinks too much and decides to have a little "fun."

It certainly seems like a lot of energy for a 57 year old to exert unless he truly meant to be insulting.

At any rate, I wouldn't want to be in his shoes. I think child-molesters have it easier in Thailand than those who insult the king!

In spite of this, I wish him the best and hope he gets sent home soon.

[f14pilot61]

It's a shame that some foreigners can not appreciate a King who has done so much for this great country and it's people. I say give him the max. punishment allowed by Thai law.

We should ALWAYS respect and admire His Majesty The King!!!!

[sbk]

Pretty sure that conversations in that direction are going to get halted pdq. I suggest you limit your discussion to the content of the article.

Well said jbowman, forum rules strictly prohibit such discussion.

No disrespect of the King of Thailand or The Thai Royal Family! Discussion of topics concerning the King or other current or deceased members of the Thai Royal Family is forbidden.

[Pink Mist]

We all love the King, and the Royal Family, but really this thread has run it's course,

long live the King