Thailand’s strict sedition laws that make it a crime to insult the monarchy have led to a factory worker being charged with disparaging the king’s dog.
In a case brought in a Thai military court, Thanakorn Siripaiboon was charged Monday with making a “sarcastic” Internet post related to the king’s pet. He also faces separate charges of sedition and insulting the king.
Thanakorn could face a total of 37 years in prison for his social media posts. The Thai military, which seized control of the country in a coup last year, did not reveal the exact insult Thanakorn is accused of writing.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej rescued his dog, Tongdaeng, from an alley. He wrote and illustrated a book about her in 2002 and an animated film about the dog was released this year.
Lèse-majesté (injured majesty) convictions have surged since Thailand’s junta seized power. One man was jailed this year for 30 years for insulting the monarchy on Facebook.
In another Facebook case, a 49-year-old accountant recently received 19 years in prison for posting an image of a military tank with a message saying a counter-coup was on its way.
