泰國網編未刪冒犯王室評論獲刑
泰國一家政治網站的主編因爲沒有及時刪除對王室不敬的評論而被判入獄8個月，緩期執行，同時還被判處2萬泰銖（約合人民幣4000元）的罰款。據悉，這位主編以計算機犯罪罪名被起訴，原因是該網站有十條對王室不敬的評論流傳了20天，法官認爲主編沒有及時履行職責。泰國的“冒犯君主法”爲保護王室而制定，最高處罰刑期可達20年，但一直被批評人士認爲是政府企圖控制言論自由的手段。此前曾有一名60歲的男子因發送對王室不敬的短信而被判入獄20年。這名男子於本月初在獄中死亡，再一次引發了人們對於“冒犯君王法”的討論。本週二，泰國2.7萬人簽名遞交請願書，要求泰國議會對該法進行改革。
An editor of a Thai political website has been given an eight-month suspended sentence for failing to remove comments deemed insulting to the monarchy.
Chiranuch Premchaiporn had faced up to 20 years in jail over the 10 posts, by other people, on the Prachatai website.
The judge said the verdict was based on a comment left on the site for 20 days.
The case has been seen as a test of freedom of expression in Thailand, amid debate about the use of laws that ban criticism of the monarchy.
Ms Premchaiporn, convicted under computer crimes law, was given a one-year suspended sentence that was immediately reduced to eight months. She was also fined 20,000 baht ($625).
She "did not perform her duty in a timely manner" and "allowed the inappropriate posting to be on the website for too long", AP news agency quoted Judge Kampol Rungrat as saying.
"I expected to be acquitted, but I found the judge's verdict logical and reasonable," Ms Premchaiporn told reporters. "However, I still think the verdict will have an impact on self-censorship."
The verdict came amid ongoing discussion over Thailand's lese majeste laws, which are intended to protect the monarchy.
Critics say the laws have been increasingly politicised and used to curb free speech.
The discussion intensified after a Thai man in his 60s who was jailed for 20 years for sending text messages deemed offensive to the royal family died in prison earlier this month.
On Tuesday a petition carrying 27,000 signatures urging reform of the laws was submitted to the Thai parliament, said an AFP news report.
