Thailand magazine editor jailed for 11 years for articles insulting monarchy

Somyot, a Thai magazine editor has been sentenced to 11 years in jail for defaming the the royal family under the country's draconian lese-majesty law. The criminal court in Bangkok convicted the 51-year-old guy in connection with two articles deemed offensive to the monarchy. The articles in question were published under pseudonyms in Somyot's now-defunct Voice of Taksin magazine in 2010 and the verdict was issued on Wednesday. More than 100 observers, including Thai and international scholars and journalists, diplomats and Somyot's supporters, were in court to hear the verdict. The court handed the editor five-year terms for each magazine article, with an additional year added from a suspended defamation case from three years ago. The editor is the third person convicted in the last month for insulting the royal family as calls grow within Thailand to change laws used to shield the monarchy from criticism. Please share your opinion about the scandal with me on Tumblr and let your friends know about this story.