<p>BANGKOK, Aug 31 (IPS) - Thailand&rsquo;s draconian lese majeste law is steadily emerging as a testing ground for the principles that renowned international human rights lobbies stand for.</p>

<p>The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you to request urgent intervention in accordance with your respective mandates in response to the case of Darunee Chanchoengsilapakul, and also with a view to wider concerns about steadily declining freedom of expression and increasing politicization of the judiciary in Thailand.</p>

<p>There she was, in a tiny undated black and white photo, slightly over an inch in height and less than an inch in width, still smiling. Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul, aka Da Torpedo, a former journalist and a supporter of ousted and convicted former premier Thaksin Shinwatra. Daranee&rsquo;s posture is slightly Mona Lisa-like &ndash; which is rather bizarre, given the kind of news she found herself in.</p>

<p>On 28 Aug, the Criminal Court found Daranee Charnchoengsilapakul guilty as charged and sentenced her to 18 years in jail.</p>

<p>Reporters Without Borders is alarmed by the recent creation of a police taskforce to monitor websites and identify those posting content that violates Thailand&rsquo;s draconian lese majeste law.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">A police IT task force has been set up to monitor websites and track down those who offend the monarchy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>Police find it difficult to deal with websites whose servers are located abroad.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>The Crime Suppression Division is investigating Thaksin&rsquo;s phone-ins, and charges are likely to be made. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p>On Aug 5, the Criminal Court held its final hearing in the case of Daranee Charnchoengsilapakul. &nbsp;Suwit Lertkraimethi, a postgraduate student at Thammasat&rsquo;s Political Sicence Faculty and an anti-coup activist testified as a defence witness, followed by Daranee herself.</p>

<p>Nakhonratchasima, Thailand &mdash; &ldquo;From abroad they surround Thailand, from the countryside they surround the cities.&rdquo;</p> <p>This was the remark of angry media baron Sondhi Limthongkul on ASTV recently, describing what he perceives as efforts by enemies of the monarchy to gang up against the royal family and destroy its image.</p>

<p>On July 30, a group of activists visited Daranee Charnchoengsilapakul at Klong Prem prison, marking the 1st anniversary of her detention pending trials for l&egrave;se majest&eacute;.</p>

<p>BANGKOK, THAILAND - Using a combination of high-tech online sleuthing and a century-old royal defamation law, Thai authorities are tightening the screws on free speech here during a sensitive time for its influential monarchy.</p>

<p>Da Torpedo was acquitted on a charge of besieging the ASTV office, but was fined for insulting Sondhi Limthongkul. &nbsp;</p> <p>On July 28, Bangkok South Criminal Court ruled on the charges against Daranee Charnchoengsilapakul or Da Torpedo of instigating unrest, detaining others, damaging property, trespass and defamation, in an incident on 1 June 2007, when she led a group of about 50-70 red shirts to protest at the ASTV office on Phra Athit Road.</p>

<p>Though the Thai government regularly invokes its royalty-protecting regulation, Cambodia's king and govt have taken a laid-back approach.</p> <p>Can you get in trouble for insulting the Cambodian King? Under Thailand's notorious lese majeste laws, one can be jailed for failing to stand up for the national anthem or publicly criticising the monarchy.&nbsp;</p>