A DIVINE ruler is what every country needs!

Riiiiight.... He's so divine, he'll have monkeys flying out of his butt any day now.

Oh, wait - did I, mua, insult the great semi-divine dictat... er, king??? Awwwww....

Go shove-it.

God Bless America.

Thailand. Backward laws, but the best cuisine on Earth.

Idk the guys from the Hangover 2 seemed to really enjoy thigh-land and not get in any trouble

Their country, their rules. Follow the rules when in another country. He was from Thailand. He should have known better.

Exactly.

this King is a very enlightened, comassionate monarch.....he works for his people and has brought his nation into the modern world. It is good thig this man is now a us citizen. And I am sure this man does not know the King well enough to make any definitive judgements about him. He knew the rules and he broke them: when in Rome........

This guy may be an American citizen now, but he is originally from Thailand and was well aware of the law. When you are in another country you are obligated to abide by their laws, whether you agree with them or not. I am sick of Americans that travel abroad, violate the laws of the nations they are visiting, and then expect the US government to ride to the rescue and get them out of trouble (and often prison). When I traveled abroad I made it a point to get information on any unusual laws in the country I was visiting. Anyone who travels outside the US, particular to non-European countries, are well advised to make sure that they understand any unusual laws or customs of the country they are going to visit.

I am glad that this guy was released and is headed home, but he has no one to blame for his imprisonment but himself. He was well aware of Thailand's "les majeste" laws and chose to violate them. We may not agree with this law, but that does not give Americans the right to violate it when they are in Thailand. As the saying goes - When in Rome, do as the Romans!!!

Some countries take their monarchs and their religious beliefs far too seriously!

Was he really jailed for the insult, or because he was also a used car salesman? I would go off on a used car salesman if he insulted me. You can't let that go. I think it's a law somewhere here too, or in the bible, probably at the back.

The USA banned a UK Student for LIFE. For sended a Email to Obama and calling him a Pr!ck...

But it was OK to threaten and publish these threats in the media against POTUS George Bush, for years...

I wonder how many people have been jaied for threatening Obama compared to those against Bush???

Keep wondering. That should keep you occupied for years, if not for the rest or your life. Oh, and get some new tinfoil.

You mean all I got to do is call that Prick and Prick and they will buy me out and move me out of here? I won't never have to come back? Hey Prick its me.

@ AC Robertson

Excellent point AC. Btw, don't you live in Thailand? What do they think of this over there, the common folks?

myspellcheckerisbroken,

Most if not ALL Thai's respect the King for what he has done for the Thai people, during the last 60+years...

The current use if the Thailand's "les majeste" laws is due to Thai POLITICIANS (Democrats & Nationalist) for POLITICAL reasons. These are the LOSERS from the last Thai elections 2011, where almost 75% of the Thais voted and over 65% voted against these two parties...

It has very little to do with disrespecting the Monarchy...

I have not head of anyone being charged for violating the "les majeste" laws by the current leadership...

And yes I do and have lived in Thailand for the last 7+years...

@AC

Thanks for the reply. Always nice to get an opinion from folks on the "inside"

Tell that to Mikhail Pletnev, a Russian Concert Pianist that was convicted of child-molestation. They had pictures/video and numerous children that were willing to testify...

He fled Thailand forfeiting his extensive Thai properties and bail, instead for facing 20+years to LIFE in a Thai Prison...

No,

Pletnev, who lives in Thailand, was questioned on 6 July 2010 for allegedly procuring under-age boys for sexual purposes and one instance of alleged rape of a 14-year-old male in Pattaya. Pletnev, who was released on bail, denied the charges.^[7][8] The pianist cancelled appearances at the BBC Proms and the Edinburgh International Festival in order to prepare his defence,^[9] but the charges were dropped on 28 September, and he resumed his career two months later.^[10]

If that were true they would have a large population of Americans.

falconer33

Just like in the USA, MONEY can result in charges being dropped. And this news, was not released in the general Thai media, though I guestion the RS media...

The Thai media and POLICE like to publicize the criminals with the evidence seized and then walk the criminals through the crime scene. With the criminals usually re-enacting their crime...

The pictures/video and victims of this incident were all over the Thai TV and the pictures published in the Thai papers. These pictures/video left little to the imagination...

Huh?

I think the king of Thailand is a shriveled old demented coot with no connection to reality. There, I insulted him. Waddya gonna do about it, king-boy?

Well, as long as you don't visit Thailand, there's nothing he could really do about that because jurisdiction doesn't expand to other countries without invoking various treaties. However, if you did that after visiting Thailand, you would be within their jurisdiction and they would be able to jail you for a number of years according to their various laws.

AC where do you come up with this stuff? how can a country that is a monarchy be democratic or anything else? king=unatary leader, period. There is no democracy, or socialism or fascism or anything else. it's a MONARCHY you are mentally deranged.

IMO - The King did the correct thing and this is not the first time he has done this.

The King had no part in creating the law and has no part in enforcing it. In fact:

"Neither the King nor any member of the Royal Family has ever personally filed any charges under this law. In fact, during his birthday speech in 2005, King Bhumibol Adulyadej encouraged criticism"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A8se_majest%C3%A9_in_Thailand

George pauljohn is clearly clueless about the Thai form of government.

george pauljohn,

The Thai Constitution established the supreme law of Thailand, forcing a change from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional democracy in 1932...

The first Democratic elections were held in Thailand during 1946...

The 1997 Constitution, often called the "People's Constitution," in terms of the degree of public participation involved in its drafting as well as the democratic nature of its articles. It stipulated a bicameral legislature, both houses of which were elected. Many human rights were explicitly acknowledged for the first time, measures were established to increase the stability of the elected governments and the right and duty to peacefully protest coups and other extra-constitutional means of acquiring power...

The right to protest coups was banned following the 2006 coup...

The 2007 Constitution, only half of the Senate was elected; the other half was appointed. The executive branch was weakened, and half as many MPs were needed to propose a no-confidence vote compared to the 1997 Constitution. The judiciary was strengthened and high ranking judges became part of the appointment committees for the Senate, the Election Commission, and other independent agencies...

Currently the Thai Congress is trying to rewrite the Thai Constitution to resemble the 1997 Constitution. The Thai Democrats and Judicial branch are fighting the changes...

There have also been Military Coups that resulted in Military Rule, but these have always reverted back to Constitutional Laws and Parliamentary rule...

The Thai Government is set-up similar to the UK Government. Popular elections are conducted selecting most of the members to the House & Senate, they in-turn select the Prime Minister...

The PM and Congress run the country and make the laws. The Thai POLICE and Military enforce these laws...

The Thai Monarchy establishes selected social programs, which it also funds and generally stays out of the POLITICAL arena. Though there have been instances where the Thai Military has conducted Coups, that were backed by the King...

BTY - When you live in a country, it is a good idea to know how things work...

Chris from Yucaipa,

The King has little to do with the enforcement or changing of Thai Laws. But he does have control of those he choses to Pardon...

It was the Pardon, I was commenting on, not the enforcement of the Law...

He didn't break the law when he was IN Thailand. Therefore no crime was committed and the Klown King of Thailand was patently wrong in having him arrested at all. He translated and published the material when he was in the USA, where at least for the time being, we have a First Amendment RIGHT to criticize ANYBODY. Arresting him for not worshiping the Klown King would be the same as New York State arresting a citizen of South Dakota for driving 75 mph through Murdo because the speed limit in Elmira is 65 mph. Arresting him in Thailand for doing something in the United States is the same thing. No reasonably intelligent person would disagree.

BigDave55,

The 55-year-old was arrested in May during a visit to Thailand and accused of posting material deemed offensive online -- an unauthorised biography of King Bhumibol Adulyadej that he translated into Thai -- while living in the US and making it available in Thailand...

If you have consensual sex with a under-age child in any foreign country. You have VIOLATED a US Law which is a FELONY and can/will be convicted in the USA. This Law was enacted during Bill Clinton's rein, so you can be convicted as a US Citizen even though you were in another country where the action was LEGAL...

Another example is the US SCUBA Diver that was accused of killing his bride in Australia. In Australia he fought and won the case, and was released. The USA arrested him when he arrived back at home and he had to stand trail AGAIN, for murder... BTY - He won this case also...

BTY - When a Thai girl tells you she is 18, the USA still considers her as 17. When Thais are born that is considered their first birthday. It is still legal in Thailand to marry a Thai that is 13-years old, but when you return to the USA, you will go to jail...

Laws are not based on INTELLIGENCE or Common Sense...

Chris from Yucaipa,

The King has little to do with the enforcement or changing of Thai Laws. But he does have control of those he choses to Pardon...

It was the Pardon, I was commenting on, not the enforcement of the Law...

Understood. I mistook your post. My bad.

The USA already has these kind of Laws on the books...

They are just selectively enforced, just like in Thailand...

The US Constitution has been IGNORED by the powers to be, ever sense I have been alive. At least former US Presidents used Congressional Approval to get their way...

I'm waiting for the World Court to bring charges against the POTUS. It is just a matter of time...

AC - and a certain previous president, too?

AC you are funny, The "world court" did nothing after all the mass murder by Bush and cheney, and you want them to charge Obama with what? illegally fixing a nation? getting people health care? ending a war? killing bin ladden? OH i get it, you think it was murder, Obama ordered the death of another right winger. lol

george pauljohn

You either obey the US Constitution or you do not...

Not even the POTUS has the ability to pick and chose which sections he wants to follow or not...

Even George Bush had AUMF's prior to exposing the US Military to armed conflicts. If you do not like the intel he used then maybe you should ask Clinton where it came from. Because the AUMF he used in 1998 was referenced in the Iraq AUMF, that the US Congress used for justification...

Unless you think the Afghanistan Conflict was unjustified, even with US Congressional approval, after 9-11. Bush & the UK turned the Afghanistan 'Nation Building' over to the UN and 52+other countries, Dec 2001...

It was Obama that ESCALATED the Afghanistan Conflict and KILLED twice the number of US Troops in half the time, spent twice the money, and KILLED OBL using intel that had been gained using methods that Obama had OUTLAWED...

It is Obama that has KILLED thousands of innocents with his use of the 'Armed drones' by the CIA. With NO ACCOUNTABILITY and has accomplished - NOTHING...

Last year the King also pardoned a drunk Aussi that had publicly urinated on a picture of the King...

The King of Thailand has implemented the ONLY - Successful Program to replace poppy crops for cash crops, in the world. This has also resulted in vast areas being reforested in Northern Thailand. Thailand is no longer listed as a world opium source...

Thailand, through family planning and medical treatment for drug users has lowered its HIV rates by over 50% and obtained almost ZERO population growth...

The Monarchy has been providing FREE prosthetics to anyone for decades. Even if they are illegals that only came to Thailand for the FREE limb. Thailand has also sent medical teams to provide this FREE service to countries effected by the US and other countries - land mines & bomblets...

Thailand has a historical; 1% unemployment rate, 6%+GDP, FREE medical, and FREE education with many college Degrees also FREE (Doctors, Nurses, Teachers, etc). It has implemented a Energy policy that has converted the mass-transport, trucking, and electrical systems to NG...

The only Idiots are the other countries Leaders, than have not done what Thailand has accomplished under the King's guidance...

So you think having a king as a dictator is better then a democracy? lol I have to say i've heard rantings of many a troll but I hand you the crown, (and you sign), you are the king of trolls, the master of bull sht and sooooooo very full of yourself. He replaced the poppy by killing anyone who grows it, the people need prosthesis cause his men cut the arms off to begin with lol I tell you what, if you move to Thailand and promise to never return ill help pay for your air fare. OH and a message to the "KING" your an ugly wart and a pedophile, you suck @$%. come get me mr. King, i'll eat your soul

Dan appearently you have never traveled outside the country. The rughts that you have as an American citizen are left at the border when you leave the country. When you arrive in a forgeign country, you become subject to their laws. Even the military, when stationed overseas, are subject to the host country's laws. Freedom is expression is a right but so are the consquences of exercising your right in the wrong country

So you think having a king as a dictator is better then a democracy?

First off the king of Thailand is not a dictator, as much like the queen of England, he has no control over what laws are enforced and what aren't. Despite him disagreeing with charging people for insulting him, he cannot abolish the law himself, because that would be meddling into politics, which he has not done unless in times of turmoil.

In his birthday speech, he even emphasized that not allowing people to speak freely about him whether bad or good, still ends up hurting his image in the end(with foreigners portraying him negatively), so why bother stopping people. But, politicians choose to keep the laws, as they often times use it against competing political parties, frivolously accusing others of les majeste. So more than anything the law is a political too.

However, there is a good majority of people that revere him like a saint(which even as a Thai I don't understand), and father so I can understand that there would be outrage when anyone disrespect the king, especially urinating on his image. So, by this reason I'm sure a most Thais don't mind keeping the law alive.

Being Thai myself, but growing up in the states, I never did understand why my mom would be in near tears every time she talks about him. But then I realize how much he's done for the country, and despite the conflicts, he's been a beacon of light, and unity.I think westerners hear "king" and immediately imagine those tyrannical dictators, and even see the devotion of Thai people like that of to the people of N Korea's Dear leader, but this is different. He has ACTUALLY done good for his people, and full well deserves their love.

Lastly, freedom of speech is far more valuable to us Americans than they are to Thais, where often times confrontations and personal point of views are kept private. Unlike us American, we feel the need to express our point of views and beliefs in an outwardly, and sometimes even aggressive manner.

Freedom of speech is at best a ILLUSION, this FREEDOM is dependent on the; topic, location, and circumstances...

You can - Yell FIRE all you want until you are in a crowded theater or subway...

You can say Hi to your friend Jack. But say "Hi-Jack" on a airplane...

In the UK the term 'Destroy' is common for having a good time. But a UK visitor to the USA was returned to the UK because she used this term in some Emails to a friend...

You can threaten George Bush and NOTHING will happen. But try it with Obama...

You can voice your NEGATIVE opinon of the US President in front of the Thai 'White House' and most people will agree. Do not try this in front of the US 'White House'...

Raymond, I guess you are speaking from experience regarding Thailand and Germany. A real simple rule to follow in Thailand - Respect the King. Speaking from experience, I find Thailand to be one of the best places to visit in Asia - second only to Singapore. The next time you are in Thailand, go to Bangkok during the celebrations for the King's birthday. It begins around 5 December and last a couple of weeks. Nobody is forced to attend. The people of Thailand do it because the love their King. The same cannot be said for their elected PM's.

You cant teach the clueless about how Thai's feel about the Royal Family. Westerners just seem to think the misguided opinion about freedoms is universal -- it isn't. Nor should it be. Western laws have a big hole in their logic as well. It isn't perfect.

I want to add that I do NOT support this law in Thailand. It should be changed. What I also do not support is the arrogance that you read in some of the comments here. Valid criticism of any ruler or leader is one thing, but that cannot be equated with the kinds of nasty attacks that some people wallow in as a way of life, regardless of what they're commenting on, attacks that exist for their own sake. We American live in a country where the focus is on the individual, sadly at times bordering on selfishness. "Human rights" pertain to individuals who exist within a social context, not in a vacuum. They are about "society" in some respects, but we in the west tend to make them "all about us". Other countries and cultures don't share that focus.

Nikolaus20, You talk from experience .

Yes, from the experience of reading comments left by people like you, such as this thoughtful, constructive one: "Stupid Greaseball Guinea, WOP".

Maybe they are on the right track so to speak. What they are talking about is basically respect for their cultures and laws. The important word being "RESPECT".

We were once a nation of laws and we demanded respect or you would pay for your evil ways but today in the USA things are very much different. There isn't any respect for us any more as we can't defend our own borders. We have people coming and going as they please. Try this in any other country in the world and see what happens to you. We have a President that decides what laws he will defend and which laws he won't. We once had a great country but now we are in a very transitional time to were soon we will be nothing but an area in the world we there are no boundaries. I truly believe our country and all of it's once great idea's it was founded upon is lost as nobody really has respect for us.

Ford Man, sadly it's not because illegals crossing your boarders that has lost the world's respect of you. We either have no respect for you because USA feels the need to police every other nation, or because, simply put, American's (most, not all) are arrogant, greedy, d-bags. Face it, the 'respect' America has was paid for by weapons and fear, how long did you think it'd last?

Frankly maybe respect would come back if you pulled forces out of places you don't belong...Possibly also the acceptance of said 'illegals', remember you took that land from the Indians, you could be considered an illegal aswell. Maybe also finding another solution to your Mexican drug problem, like ending your silly war on drugs, legalization would nip that in the bud, so to speak.

How so? Most people are offended by insults because such things attack their dignity. We are not offended because we agree with the insults. Are blacks offended by racial insults because they agree with them? In traditional monarchies, the ruler represents the state, functioning as a living symbol OF the state, and of tradition and related values. In such a climate, an insult hurled at a monarch becomes an attack, not on an individual, but on the state, or on its peace, order and dignity. It's seen as being a threat to good social order. In the west, these attacks or insults are accepted, even in countries with monarchies. Even so, many Americans still see attacks on a president (as opposed to "criticism") as being an offense to the dignity of his office, thus weakening our way of life, which cannot exist without respect for national symbols and institutions, in which our values are enshrined.

Then move your happy ass back to Russia "Nikolaus" and go insult Putin. This way when you end up in Black Dolphin prison you'll know why it is better to live in America.

Really? I happen to think Obama is a walking socialist soup sandwich who wants to control all of our lives. I guess you are one of those ass clows who believes in big government, welfare nanny state with entitlement spending running rampant. No pdeal bikes for me. I drive a Corvette and wish I could put leaded gas i it. I also drive Ford F-150 pickup non hybrid. Oh, and I go out and chop trees down for no reason, plus I throw acid in the rivers as well as car batteries. And the reason I want Obamacare repealled is because I want all the old people to die without healthcare.

Does that beat what you want which is welfare, entitlement spending increases, unemployment insurance for 299 weeks and an increase on taxes of all those evil rich people, and last but not least forcing veryone to run around with body piercings andforced to buy condo's all up in the Castro?

One question? Have you ever been offered a job by a poor person?