Twitter lights up after somyos lese majeste verdict

Following the conviction of media activist Somyos Preuksakasemsuk on Wednesday, debates broke out on social networking sites such as Twitter over the lese majeste law, which imposes a maximum jail term of 15 years.

"I'm so happy that Somyos is incarcerated. (LOL)," tweeted an ultra-royalist going by @a_veerayut yesterday afternoon.

Some Twitter royalists were upset at the European Union's statement criticising the verdict on Wednesday, saying the EU has no sovereignty over Thailand.

"EU. Should not poke its nose into Thai law and the ruling of Thai court…Thailand is no one's colony. EU is not our father," @tin434 posted late on Wednesday.

@Pairoj6125 said the EU should be more concerned about its own impending financial collapse. Claims that Thailand is culturally unique and that Thais harbour a deep and universal reverence for the monarchy are a common thread on Twitter and other social media.

Some said that Thais should not worry, because freedom of expression in Singapore or North Korea was in an even worse state. Others said opponents of the lese majeste law were merely being funded by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to undermine the royal institution.

Opponents said the law is anti-democratic and barbaric. The harsh ruling in Somyos' case had disturbed them deeply, they said.