A first lesson you learn about living in Thailand, watch what you say. There are a number of things one cannot discuss or allow to be discussed or written about in the event you are an editor.
The editor of a website is currently on trial, facing 10 counts of breaking the rules and could be jailed for up to 50 years if found guilty. This trial will be watched closely and not just from within Thailand.
From the freejiew.blogspot.com website:
Charges
According to the arrest warrant, Chiranuch is charged for:
● Defaming, insulting or threatening the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent
● Making an appearance to the public by words, writings or any other means which is not an act within the purpose of the Constitution or for expressing an honest opinion or criticism in order to raise unrest and disaffection amongst the people in a manner likely to cause disturbance in the country; or to cause the people to transgress the laws of the
Country
● Importing into a computer system of any computer data related with an offence against the Kingdom’s security under the Criminal Code
● Intentionally supporting or consenting to a computer-related offence within a computer system under own control
Penalty
The approximate penalty, if all the charges are used by public prosecutor, can be up to 32 years in prison. Moreover, these charges can be taken separately and multiplied by the number of comments that are considered offensive.
For more about the case;
- http://freejiew.blogspot.com/2011/01/prachatai-facsheet-case-1.html
- http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/440062-website-editors-trial-in-thailand-a-test-case-for-media-freedom/
Farang ( ฝรั่ง) In Bangkok 