Surapak Puchaisaeng, a 40 year-old computer programmer was arrested on lese majeste charges on 1 September 2011. Lawyer Lomrak Meemeuan says police arrested him for insulting the king on a Facebook page.
A later statement says that Surapak was arrested by about 10 plain clothes Department of Special Investigation officers at his apartment in Bangkok. Surapak states that the police accused him of creating an offending Facebook page. He denied all knowledge of this, of the username Dork Or (“ดอกอ้อ”) and involvement with the website Nor Por Chor USA. He is quoted: “I denied all knowledge, but they tried to force me to sign a confession. I went to telephone a lawyer, but they took the mobile phone from me.” He said that he then signed the confession and gave his password as he was afraid. He was only able to contact a lawyer when taken to DSI HQ. He is seeking bail.
Surapak’s case carries the dubious distinction of being the first lese majeste arrest under the Yingluck Shinawatra government, although investigations began under the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.
A later Prachatai account provides different details of the case.
It says the 40-year-old software developer arrested by Technology Crime Suppression Division police on 1 September 2011 and accused of being the owner of a Facebook page entitled ‘I shall reign with … [censored]’ which allegedly contained messages offensive to the monarchy. Suraphak has denied all charges.
He says the police seized his mobile phone, two computers and a laptop, and refused him access to friends, witnesses and lawyers until he was taken to the TCSD office for further interrogation.
He claims the police did not produce any evidence to substantiate the allegations, and simply told him that a student had filed a complaint about the Facebook page and a witness had identified him.
He was indicted on 25 November 2011, with no bail and previous requests for bail have been refused.
Freedom House issued a Freedom Alert on this case on 8 September 2011 (see below).
Media accounts of Surapak’s case:
Prachatai, 29 November 2011: “Facebook user indicted for lèse majesté“
Prachatai, 15 October 2011: “Singaporean gets 15 years for lèse majesté“
Phuket News, 9 September 2011: “Man held for lese majeste“
Freedom House, 8 September 2011: “Thai Computer Programmer Detained After Criticizing Monarchy on Facebook“
Bangkok Pundit, 7 September 2011: “Thai arrested for Facebook comment“
ZDNet, 6 September 2011: “Man arrested for allegedly insulting Thailand’s king on Facebook“
The Examiner, 6 September 2011: “Felonious: Man could serve 15 years for ‘defaming’ Thailand’s king“
Washington Post, 5 September 2011: “Thai computer programmer charged with insulting Thailand’s revered king on Facebook“
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