Australian faces jail for insulting Thai monarchy

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-19 14:34

BANGKOK, Thailand -- An Australian writer said Monday he will plead guilty to criminal charges of insulting Thailand's royal family in his 2005 novel, adding that he has endured "unspeakable suffering" during almost five months in detention.

Shackled at the ankles, Harry Nicolaides wore an orange prison uniform as police led him into Bangkok's Criminal Court for the opening of his trial.

"I'm pleading guilty," 41-year-old Nicolaides told reporters outside the court. "I would like to apologize. This can't be real. It feels like a bad dream."

The writer was arrested August 31 at Bangkok's international airport as he was about to board a flight home, apparently unaware of a March arrest warrant issued in connection with his novel, "Verisimilitude," according to rights groups. He was indicted in November and denied bail.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy but has severe lese majeste laws, mandating a jail term of three to 15 years for "whoever defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir to the throne or the Regent."

Nicolaides, a Melbourne resident who lived in Thailand from 2003 to 2005, taught in the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai. He has described his novel as a commentary on political and social life of contemporary Thailand. It is not clear where it has been published.

"Tell my family I am very concerned," he told reporters, breaking down in tears. He said he endured "unspeakable suffering" during his pretrial detention but did not elaborate.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-serving monarch, is credited as being the nation's unifying force during times of crisis, though he has no major official role in politics. The 81-year-old has great influence because of the immense respect he commands from most Thais.

The arrest warrant against Nicolaides accused him of defaming Thailand's royal family, according to Reporters Without Borders.

"His novel never intended to threaten or defame the royal family," the group said in an earlier statement. "We call on the authorities to drop the charges against him and to release him."

The severity of the lese majeste laws was highlighted last year when a Swiss man, apparently acting in a drunken frenzy, was found guilty and given a 10-year prison sentence for defacing images of the revered monarch. He was pardoned by the king after serving about a month behind bars.

New Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said last week his government would try to ensure the law is not abused. But he said the monarchy must be protected because it has "immense benefits to the country as a stabilizing force."