Thailand gives ‘repressive’ 20-year sentence for text messages

Headline Title: Thailand: ‘Repressive’ 20-year sentence for text messages 23 November 2011 A 20-year prison sentence for sending four text messages deemed offensive to the Queen of Thailand is a blow to freedom of expression, Amnesty International said today. Amphon Tangnoppaku, 61, was sentenced today to 20 years’ imprisonment, reportedly under the lese majeste law – the crime of insulting certain members of Thailand’s royal family – and the Computer-related Crimes Act.Amphon was accused of sending four text messages to an aide to the Prime Minister in 2010, but reportedly continues…

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