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Nicolaides in line for royal pardon
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Nicolaides was sentenced by a Thai criminal court for insulting Thai monarchy (Reuters: Sukree Sukplang ) |
Australian Harry Nicolaides, facing a three-year jail sentence for insulting Thai monarchy, has been recommended for a royal pardon, Thai corrections department officials said.
Nicolaides, 41, was sentenced on January 19 by a Thai criminal court for insulting the country's monarchy in his 2005 novel Verisimilitude, which contained references to an unnamed crown prince.
He was arrested in late August as he boarded a flight to Melbourne and was repeatedly denied bail.
The Melbourne author remained in prison until the final hearing in January when he was found guilty of breaching Thailand's lese majeste laws.
TV images of a deeply distraught Nicolaides led to widespread concern in Australia, with his family shocked as he was brought to the court in prison garb and chains.
He described his time in prison as "torture" and "a bad dream" and has expressed remorse over the publication.
Thai corrections department officials said a recommendation for Nicolaides to receive a royal pardon from King Bhumipol Adulyadej is underway.
The recommendation is supported by the Pardons Division of the Corrections Department with Nicolaides' case overseen by division official Thanawat Pakdebutra.
But the complete documentation is still to be finalised, corrections department planning division officer Putthipong Natthajaruwit said.
Mr Putthipong said the investigation was in the final stages, with further evidence pending from the court.
"We are waiting for evidence from the court and we will make a petition to the minister and then send it to the King.
Vital recommendation
"We continue to recommend pardoning Harry [but the process] is not finished yet," he said.
"We are waiting for when we get the evidence, then it will be finished to sign then continue to the King."
A one month limit for Nicolaides' lawyers to lodge an appeal to his three-year jail sentence is due to lapse this week.
Once passed, this would allow for the pardon to be presented to the justice minister and then to the Royal Palace.
Correction department officials said notification of the pardon could take place within the next month.
"We cannot tell how long, [only] when everything is finished, then it will continue immediately to the King," he said.
Human rights lawyer Somchai Homla-or said the corrections departments recommendation was very important in that it would clear the way for the granting of a pardon.
"I believe that with this recommendation [Nicolaides] will be granted a pardon from his majesty. The recommendation from the department is very important," Mr Somchai said.
"With the recommendation [for a pardon] he should get it."
Political observers say Nicolaides, whose book sold fewer than 10 copies, became a pawn in Thailand's currently deeply divided political landscape.
Over recent years, the conflict has pitted populist former leader Thaksin Shinawatra and his supporters against the urban middle class, who accuse the former prime minister of corruption and abuse of power.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who came to power in mid-December, has pointed to deliberate steps to draw the monarchy into the country's political conflict.
The Australian Government and embassy officials have for several months been lobbying for Nicolaides' release.
An embassy official said several steps remained before the release and that the embassy remained in close touch with Thai authorities.
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Jailed Australian writer Harry Nicolaides kept in 'medieval' cell
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Article from: NEWS.com.au - By Jordaine Liddy - February 2009
AUSTRALIAN writer Harry Nicolaides is being forced to survive in “medieval conditions” and is under “constant threat” of beatings in his Thai jail cell, his friend says.
“There is the constant threat of beatings, food and possessions being stolen, gang fights, bullying and medieval conditions to sleep and exist in,’’ Scott Newton, who visits Nicolaides once a week, told the Manningham Leader.
The details come after Nicolaides’ brother, Forde Nicolaides, last night said a pardon application was being considered by “Thai authorities including the Royal Palace’’.
Nicolaides is being held in the Bangkok Remand Centre after being convicted of lese-majesty - defamation of the Thai monarchy.
He was convicted over a paragraph in his 226-page fictional book, Verisimilitude, which referred to the personal life of an unnamed member of the Thai royal family and was deemed offensive.
Mr Newton, who lives in Thailand, met Nicolaides when they both lived in Melbourne.
“The first time I saw him (in prison), it was distressing…like Harry, it came as a total shock to me that he had been arrested,’’ he told Leader via email today.
“Harry always greets me with a polite smile, but then he launches into venting his frustration and this often causes him to break down.
“Harry just feels so helpless … I am just doing what little I can do to try and keep his spirits up and give him someone to vent his frustration to.’’
Mr Newton said it was hard to see Nicolaides behind bars and felt the Australian Government had not done enough to help him.
“The total lack of sympathy towards his plight, from since being arrested, to being sentenced and beyond, for his colleagues and some friends of mine, is staggering to say the least,” he said.
Last month, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Australian officials in Bangkok were in contact with Nicolaides and his legal adviser to help with the pardon application.
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