Thai Man Jailed for Insulting King Dies in Detention | The New York Times

Thai Man Jailed for Insulting King Dies in Detention | The New York Times
THOMAS FULLER, May 8, 2012

A retired truck driver who was sentenced last year to 20 years in prison for sending text messages deemed insulting to Thailand’s monarchy died in prison on Tuesday, his lawyer said.

The man, Ampon Tangnoppakul, 61, was sentenced in November to five years for each of four text messages sent from his mobile phone. The court did not reveal the content of the messages but said they went against the “evident” fact that King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit “are full of mercy and concerned about the entire population” and could incite hatred of the rulers. 

Mr. Ampon’s death is likely to sharpen the debate over Thailand’s harsh lèse-majesté laws, which forbid defaming, insulting or threatening leading members of the royal family. Offenses can be punished with up to 15 years for each count. There are also related laws against “computer crimes.” 

The laws are being used with greater frequency in the twilight of the reign of King Bhumibol, 84, and critics say they are antiquated and being abused for political purposes.Widely referred to as Uncle SMS, Mr. Ampon was repeatedly denied bail despite a history of cancer. The court ruled last year that he was a flight risk and that his condition “did not appear to be fatal.” His lawyer, Anon Numpa, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday that prison may have worsened his condition. 

Mr. Ampon complained of stomach pains last week and was sent to a prison hospital, where he died. An autopsy was being performed Tuesday, Mr. Anon said. “His condition would have been better had he been on the outside,” he said.

Mr. Anon said his client maintained that he had not sent the messages and had been in the process of applying for a royal pardon. 

In a handwritten note to his lawyer from prison last month, Mr. Ampon said he was “often disheartened,” and missed his wife and grandchildren. “I’m trying to be patient,” he said. “I have high hopes that I will get freedom soon.” 

The text messages were received by a senior government official in May 2010, a time of high political passions in Thailand when troops were clashing with protesters on the streets of Bangkok. Mr. Ampon told the court that he did not know how to send text messages.

Articles published in the Thai press discussed the possibility that his mobile phone’s identity may have been pirated. The court, however, said it was convinced beyond a doubt that the defendant “was the person who sent those four messages.”