Jail possible for Thai king insult
CNN Website: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/03/12/thailand.king.ap/index.html
A Swiss citizen, Oliver Rudolf Jufer, may be facing jail time for desecrating one of Thailand's most revered figures, the King himself. According to his lawyers, Mr. Jufer was "intoxicated" when he committed the crime. He allegedly spray painted a few portraits of the King. By trying to tell the courts that Mr. Jufer was drunk, lawyers are trying to get him off the hook by giving the impression that there was no intention to disrespect the monarchy, that what he did is no different from a drunkard ranting and raving on the street.
I really hope the judge presiding over this case will not be as silly as to acquit Mr. Jufer because he was drunk and did not know what he was doing. I mean, I really wonder how in the world did a drunk manage to get hold of enough black spray paint to desecrate "several" posters of the King? Besides, if he really had no intention of disrespecting the King, why would he repeatedly spray paint the monarchy's poster? Wouldn't he have spray painted other sections of the wall and not specifically target posters of the King?
Many expatriates and tourists, particularly Western ones come to Asia and believe that they can do any damn thing and get away with it because they have the money. I believe that the presiding Judge will dish out a sentence that is harsh enough to send a message out to these expatriates and tourists that just because they're in countries that may not be as well to do as theirs, it does not mean that they can do as they wish! To commit a simple act of folly is excusable after punishment, but for disrespecting the Thai King, a figure who is almost like a demi-god to the Thai people, what punishment is there for that?
I really hope the judge presiding over this case will not be as silly as to acquit Mr. Jufer because he was drunk and did not know what he was doing. I mean, I really wonder how in the world did a drunk manage to get hold of enough black spray paint to desecrate "several" posters of the King? Besides, if he really had no intention of disrespecting the King, why would he repeatedly spray paint the monarchy's poster? Wouldn't he have spray painted other sections of the wall and not specifically target posters of the King?
Many expatriates and tourists, particularly Western ones come to Asia and believe that they can do any damn thing and get away with it because they have the money. I believe that the presiding Judge will dish out a sentence that is harsh enough to send a message out to these expatriates and tourists that just because they're in countries that may not be as well to do as theirs, it does not mean that they can do as they wish! To commit a simple act of folly is excusable after punishment, but for disrespecting the Thai King, a figure who is almost like a demi-god to the Thai people, what punishment is there for that?
posted by Clarence Tan @ 6:33 PM
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