Say What? 27-Year-Old Man Faces Jail Term For Insulting King's Dog

A 27-year-old man is facing a jail term for insulting the King of Thailand's dog. Thanakorn Siripaiboon has been charged by police with lese majeste for a ''satirical'' Facebook post about the king and his dog, his lawyer Pawinee Chumsri told the AFP. Lèse majesté is the crime of violating majesty, an offence against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or against a state, and it has been prohibited by the law of Thailand since 1908. Chumsri was quoted as saying, ''There was a post including three photos on his Facebook page on December 6 with a message that satirized the king's dog.''

Apart from being charged for insulting the king's dog, Siripaiboon also faces charges of sedition and computer crimes for clicking ''like'' on a doctored photo of the king and sharing it as well as an infographic on a growing corruption scandal engulfing the junta.

Thailand has one of the world's harshest royal defamation laws. Anyone convicted of insulting the revered but ailing 88-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or the queen, heir or regent can face up to 15 years in jail on each count.

Prosecutions have soared since the army, which styles itself as the champion of the monarchy, grabbed power in a coup last year.

Thanakorn, an auto-parts worker, could face up to 37 years in prison. There has been a recent trend towards record-breaking sentences on transgressors, many of whom are also regime critics.

Even the US ambassador faces a police investigation for royal defamation over a speech last month in which he expressed concern at the lengthy sentences.

Bhumibol, the world s longest-serving monarch, is seen as a unifying figure in the deeply divided nation and his economic and social teachings are relentlessly promoted in Thailand.

Over the last decade his favourite dog, an adopted stray called Tongdaeng (Copper) which is praised for her loyalty and obedience, has been used to outline his vision of how Thais should behave.

An animated film about the dog last week shot to number two at box offices across the kingdom.

Most Thais have only known King Bhumibol as their monarch. Anxiety over the future once his six-decade reign ends is seen as an aggravating factor in Thailand's bitter political divide.