He was besides charged with violating a computer crime law for posting a link to the BBC report, which was shared by more than 2,000 people. He pleaded guilty to the charges against him earlier on Tuesday, prompting the woo to bring forward its verdict. “ The woo sentenced Pai to five years in prison, reduced to two and a one-half years, ” Kissandang Nutcharat, Jatupat ’ s lawyer, told Reuters. “ Pai confessed … He knew that if he tried to fight the charges it would not be of any use. ” Thailand ’ s military government took power after a 2014 coup against a democratically elect government. Since then, the detention of people accused of royal diss has increased aggressively. last week, a man was jailed for 18 years for posting six video clips deemed insulting to the monarchy. International rights groups have accused authorities of using wide laws to silence critics. Some political commentators have said the laws have been used to shield governments and the military from criticism. ‘ OUTRAGEOUS ’
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A spokesperson for the BBC told Reuters the profile was written and published in London. “ BBC Thai was established to bring impartial mugwump and accurate news to a country where the media faces restrictions and we are confident that this article adheres to the BBC ’ s editorial principles, ” the spokesperson said in reception to a Reuters request for a comment on the verdict. International rights group Amnesty International said it was “ exorbitant ” that Jatupat had been jailed for sharing a newsworthiness article and it called for his release. “ This verdict shows the extremes to which the authorities are prepare to go in using inhibitory laws to silence peaceful debate, including on Facebook, ” Josef Benedict, Amnesty International ’ s deputy campaigns conductor for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said in a statement. Brad Adams, Asia conductor at Human Rights Watch, besides condemned the verdict. “ It appears that Jatupat was singled out from the thousands of people who shared the BBC article, and prosecuted for his strong opposition to military rule more than for any harm incurred by the monarchy, ” Adams said in a statement. Anyone can file a lese-majeste complaint against anyone in Thailand and complaints are about constantly investigated by authorities who fear falling dirty of the law themselves.
The laws protecting members of the imperial class from diss limit what all news organizations, including Reuters, can report from Thailand. Reporting by Aukkarapon Niyomyat, Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Suphanida Thakral and Panarat Thepgumpanat ; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre ; Editing by Robert Birsel Our Standards : The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles .