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[fourloves]

AP - April 12, 2007

Thailand has pardoned a Swiss man who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for defacing an image of the country's revered king, law enforcement officials said Thursday.

Oliver Rudolf Jufer, 57, was the first foreigner convicted in at least a decade under strict Thai laws protecting the monarchy. He pleaded guilty in March to five counts of lese majest, or insulting the monarchy and had faced a maximum of 75 years in prison.

Police and prison officials in Chiang Mai confirmed Jufer had been transferred Wednesday to a police station in Chiang Mai awaiting his deportation. They could not say when he would be deported.

"The king in his kindness has granted him a pardon and he has been transferred from prison and is in the process of being deported from the country," Chiang Mai Police Col. Prachuab Wongsuk told the Associated Press.

[wakingdream]

I was wondering what was going on with that dude. He's pretty lucky that the King is a nice guy....some people just don't understand how or why insulting the King of Thailand is such a HUGE offence, but it is. Thai's take that extremely seriously. It's not like in North America where we are free to criticise whomever we please pretty much....

[ScottWoz]

I'm surprised too. I thought he'd got what was coming to him..

[Paul]

I thought he did too, but the King is a excellent and kind hearted person.

Just in case it isn't clear to people - HELLO - The Thai people LOVE their King. Not a little bit. A LOT. Please do not say or do anything that would cause offense. It isn't nice.

In Thai culture there is a strong sense of respect for elders and parents. There is also a very well developed sense of gratitude in Thai people. They are a very grateful race. So the man who all Thais consider to be their father and the man who has spent every day of the last 60 years doing his best to make the life of the Thai people better - you should be able to understand - he is greatly respected, loved and considered above being allowed to be criticized.


If this isn't clear enough for you - maybe this will help:
There is a special language used when speaking to Royals - not just ordinary Thai language but another Royal language. Thai school kids learn it when they are at school, but few people speak it fluently. I have just been reading about the way someone would adress the King. In English the term "Your Majesty" translates into a long sentance which refers to the dust below the King's feet. Thai people wouldn't actually speak to the King in this language, they wouldn't even speak to his feet, but instead they would address their comment or question to the dust below the King's feet.