Oliver Jufer and Thai Lese Majeste
Last updated: 2007-04-14
Oliver Rudolf Jufer, aged 57, a Swiss man living in Thailand, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday 29 March 2007, the first foreigner for many years in to be convicted under the Thai Lese Majeste laws (i.e. for insulting the Thai Monarchy).
Jufer was arrested on Dec 5 2006, after being spotted on surveillance cameras in Chiang Mai, defacing posters of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of The Kingdom of Thailand. In court, Jufer claimed he had been drinking heavily with friends before picking up a can of sprat paint and proceeded to deface images of the King around town.
In fact, Jufer was lucky to get away with a 10 year sentence, as he could have been given up to 75 years under Thailand's very strict Lese Majeste laws. Foreigners often don't understand the respect given to Thai Royals but Jufers error in judgment is surprising as he has lived in Thailand for quite some time and really should have known better.
This case has been widely covered in the media and has brought into sharp focus Thailand's Lese Majeste laws, which have remained unchanged for a century. The Thai King is greatly loved and revered by the people of Thailand and many consider him to be divine. Criticism of the Monarchy is strictly forbidden in all circumstances. To give you an idea of how seriously this was taken by the Thai authorities, the press were not given access to Jufers hearing in order to minimize publicity and hence avoid any further insult to the Monarchy.
The case was made even worse by the fact that Jufers vandalism coincided with the King's birthday celebrations.
On the day of his sentencing, Jufer sat in court with his ankles shackled and had nothing to say to reporters as he was taken away. His sentence was probably relatively light due to the fact that he did not deny his crime, or attempt to dispute the error of his ways.
In reality, Jufer is unlikely to serve the full 10 years and will probably be quietly released after a few years, or deported to Switzerland to serve the rest of his sentence. It is not really something Thailand wants in the media. Only a handful of foreigners have ever fallen foul of the Lese Majeste laws, most of them deported back to their home countries.
Let this be a lesson to all foreigners in Thailand. Never underestimate the respect given to the Thai Royal Family.
Update
Just days after this article was submitted, Oliver Jufer was pardoned by the King and sent home to Swizerland.
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