By STAFF Writer
December 08, 2011
A Thailand court sentenced a United States citizen Joe Gordon on Thursday for two and a half years in prison for defaming the royal family of the country by translating excerpts from locally banned biography "The King Never Smiles" of the Thai king and posting it online. The book was published by Yale University.
Born in Thailand, Joe Gordon lived in the U.S. for past three decades. He uploaded the translated excerpts from U.S. soil. The Thai government sees the online publishing of banned book as crime of lese-majeste.
Initially Gordon denied the charges. He pleaded guilty in October. According to his lawyer Arnon Nampa, the 54-year-old Lerpong Wichaicommart (Gordon's Thai name) will request a royal pardon.
Information Minister of Thailand, Arundith Nakornthap, asked for the removal of 86,000 Facebook pages between August and November.
"The King Never Smiles" was written by Paul M. Handley, former journalist. He detailed in the book a biography of King Bhumibol and argues that the Thai king led a restoration of royal power in the country which has impeded democracy development.
On Monday the king marked his 48th birthday being in hospitalized with various ailments for over two years. He had been on the throne for more than 6 decades and citizens have unquestioning loyalty towards him.
In November the Information Minister of Thailand, Arundith Nakornthap, asked for the removal of 86,000 Facebook pages between August and November. The minister said further that users of the social media who "like" or "share" content that insults the Thai monarchy are committing a crime.
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