THAILAND: Man, jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of sending text messages disrespectful to Queen Sirikit dies in jail a few months into his sentence, his lawyer says

Record ID: 863350

  • Title: THAILAND: Man, jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of sending text messages disrespectful to Queen Sirikit dies in jail a few months into his sentence, his lawyer says
  • Date: 9th May 2012
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (MAY 8, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CENTRAL CORRECTIONAL HOSPITAL MEDIA INSIDE HOSPITAL RELATIVES OF DEAD THAI PRISONER AMPHON TANGNOPPAKU WALKING IN VARIOUS OF AMPHON'S RELATIVES VEHICLE ARRIVING INSIDE HOSPITAL BACK OF T-SHIRT AGAINST THAI CRIMINAL CODE ARTICLE 112, LESE MAJESTE LAW AMPHON'S SUPPORTERS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 58-YEAR-OLD AMPHON SUPPORTER SURIYA SHINAPHAN, SAYING: "It is strange for people who didn't do anything wrong to have to face this, it is not right. For Uncle Amphon, he didn't even know how to send SMS. He can only answer and make a phone call, it is not right." PEOPLE GATHERING IN FRONT OF CORRECTIONAL HOSPITAL WOMAN CRYING AMPHON'S WIFE ROSALYN TANGNOPPAKUL CRYING CAR CARRYING AMPHON'S DEAD BODY LEAVING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) AMPHON'S WIFE ROSALYN TANGNOPPAKU, SAYING: "Now you have been released, you can go home now." AMPHON'S SUPPORTER GATHERING IN FRONT OF HOSPITAL GATE ROSALYN WALKING OUT SUPPORTED BY PEOPLE
  • Embargoed: 24th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • City:
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVACLWU9BP1RI1JY47OGSVKPNNMN
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: A Thai man who was jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of sending text messages disrespectful to Queen Sirikit has died in jail a few months into his sentence, his lawyer said on Tuesday (May 8) The case last November of 61-year-old Amphon Tangnoppaku, who the media nicknamed "Uncle SMS", had stoked a debate about the harsh sentences imposed in Thailand for lese-majeste, or insulting the king, queen or crown prince.
    Around 50 people opposing the Thailand lese majeste law gathered in front of Central Correctional Hospital in Bangkok to mourn over Amphon's death.
    During his trial, Amphon had denied sending the SMS messages to a government official, saying he did not even know how to send such messages from his mobile telephone.
    "It is strange for people who didn't do anything wrong to have to face this, it is not right. For Uncle Amphon, he didn't even know how to send SMS. He can only answer and make a phone call, it is not right," said 58-year-old Suriya Srinaphan, a supporter of Amphon.
    His wife, Rosalyn Tangnoppaku said his death has set him free.
    "Now you have been released, you can go home now," she said.
    Successive governments have ignored international calls to reform the lese-majeste laws, a highly sensitive issue in a country where 84-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej is regarded as semi-divine.
    The laws are increasingly questioned in Thailand itself, with some critics arguing the legislation is abused to discredit activists and politicians opposed to the royalist establishment.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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