Thailand frees Australian author

[Coventina]

Source: UPI

MELBOURNE, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- An Australian author freed from more than five months in a Thai jail for insulting Thailand's royalty says Canberra did a good job in securing his release.

Harry Nicolaides, 41, had been sentenced to more than three years in jail for insulting a Thai crown prince in a book, but was granted a royal pardon Thursday. After a sharing a tearful greeting with his family upon his arrival in Melbourne Saturday, he thanked the Australian government for helping arrange his pardon, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

"I was happy with the Australian government's efforts, they had constraints that they had to work within and the Australian embassy did a marvelous job," Nicolaides told reporters.

Although he was happy to be home, Nicolaides said he is angry about his ordeal, adding, "I am angry, I am frustrated, I am perplexed."



Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/02/21/Thailand_frees_Australian_author/UPI-27791235234646/

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Glad to see he has been freed.

[Hope And Change]

1. Great news.Thanks for posting!K & R!

[Swagman]

2. new PM Kevin Rudd makes a difference

the former Bush acolyte John Howard would have let him rot in prison like he did with David Hicks in Guantanamo Bay for 5 years.

Still-everyone should take note when visiting Thailand and respect that the Thai people hold the Royal Family in great reverence.

[rpannier]

3. I'm glad he's freed

But he should have done better research.
The Thai government does not hide that it's a crime to print or say disparaging things about the monarch.
The King is loved in Thailand -- Pretty Much Everywhere

I was in Thailand 3 years ago and took Death Bridge Tour. Most houses we passed had their little Buddhist Shrine in the front yard and a shrine to the King.
Criticize the King in a Bangkok nightclub and you can be sure of a severe 'ass kicking' by most, if not all, in the bar.

[Norrin Radd]

4. Dear Thailand,

Your king sucks! Neener, neener, neener! Take that!