THAILAND: Writer detained for insulting the monarchy

16 September 2008

RAN 46/08

The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of Australian writer Harry Nicolaides, who is charged with ‘lèse-majesté' (insulting the monarchy) for his 2005 novel Verisimilitude. PEN considers his detention to be in breach of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression and to which Thailand is a state Party. It therefore calls for his immediate and unconditional release, and for the charge to be dropped.

According to International PEN's information, Harry Nicolaides, aged 41, was arrested at the Bangkok airport when he was about to board his plane to Australia on 31 August 2008. He was charged under Article 112 of the Criminal Code with ‘lèse-majesté' (insulting the monarchy), and faces a sentence of between three and fifteen years of imprisonment. The charge stems from a passage in Nicolaides' novel Verisimilitude which is considered to be insulting to the Thai king's eldest son. It is said that in the 300-page book, only three lines refer to the crown prince, and that he is not even mentioned by name. Harry Nicolaides issued a public apology from his prison cell, and stated that he would like to have the chance to apologise to the Royal Family and explain.

On 2 September Nicolaides requested to be released on bail, but his request was denied. It is said that only fifty copies of the book were ever printed, of which seven were sold.

Harry Nicolaides first visited Thailand five years ago, and made his living there as a lecturer in hospitality and tourism at a university in Chiang Rai, writing occasionally for some media outlets.

For further background information on Harry Nicolaides go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7604935.stm