Sondhi Limthongkul and lese majeste

The Bangkok Post (29 September 2009: “Decision on Sondhi case deferred”) reports that the prosecution continues to postpone its “decision on whether to proceed with a lese majeste case against People’s Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul to Nov 17.” They did the same with Jakrapob Penkair’s case.

Apparently Sondhi’s lawyer “submitted a request saying his client is now in the United States receiving medical treatment for sickness as a result of the attempt on his life in April this year.”He returns later this week.

Being yellow has its advantages. Sondhi’s case relates to comments he made to a PAD rally on last year, about Darunee Charnchoensilpakul’s case, and at about the time she made the statement that landed in jail, without bail, facing trial in a closed court, suffering ill-health and being sentenced to 18 years (not 8 years as the Post report has it).

Of course, Sondhi’s case is just another example of how lese majeste is used politically and has political implications. Sondhi was using lese majeste against a political opponent and it comes back to bite him. It is a law that is an affront to logic and free speech.

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