Government defends lese majeste sentences

Government defends lese majeste sentences

A government spokesman has defended the two record lese majeste sentences handed down on Friday, saying it was part of a general push for tougher law enforcement.

"We are applying nothing new in terms of law enforcement," Maj Gen Weerachon Sukhondhapatipak said. "It's just a matter of the previous
administration neglecting to enforce the law properly."

A 29-year-old woman in Chiang Mai was sentenced to 28 years in prison on Friday for insulting the monarchy on a Facebook page. The ruling came within hours of a 30-year sentence for a man in Bangkok.

The Chiang Mai military court had handed down a 56-year jail term to the woman, known only as Sasiwimol, but her sentence was halved due to her confession.

Since the coup, at least 51 people have been charged with lese majeste.

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