<div> <div>The Thai Appeal Court on May 8 affirmed the decision of the Court of First Instance, sentencing Ekkachai H. to three years and four months in jail and a fine of 66,666 baht for selling VCDs of a documentary on the Thai royal succession by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and copies of Wikileaks cables.&nbsp;</div> <div> </div></div>

<div>Surachai Danwatthananusorn, a 71-year-old <em>Red Siam</em> faction leader convicted on five lèse majesté charges, was granted a royal pardon on Friday after having been imprisoned in Bangkok Remand Prison since February 22, 2011.&nbsp;</div> <p></p>

<p>Pranee Danwatthananusorn is running a campaign to collect signatures in support of her petition to seek royal pardons for lèse majesté convicts including her husband Surachai.</p>

<p>The Criminal Court is likely to deliver its ruling by the end of this year on a case in which a stockbroker has been prosecuted for posting comments on Same Sky or <a href="http://prachatai.com/english/search/node/fah diew kan">Fah Diew Kan</a> webboard in 2009.</p>

<p>Surachai Danwatthananusorn has been hospitalized since 17 May with high blood pressure and a swollen prostate, resulting in fatigue and loss of appetite, said his wife Pranee.&nbsp; </p>

<p>On 5 March, Pranee Danwatthananusorn told Prachatai that her husband Surachai was going to petition the government to seek a royal pardon for all political prisoners including those jailed for l&egrave;se majest&eacute; offences.</p>

<p>On 28 Feb, <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/search/node/Surachai Danwatthananusorn">Surachai Danwatthananusorn</a>, leader of the Red Siam group, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for l&egrave;se majest&eacute; on three counts, but the jail term was commuted by half due to his guilty plea.</p>

<p>Bangkok Remand Prison reopened for visitors on 18 Nov, after it had been closed for two weeks due to flooding.&nbsp; The water at the prison was still above knee level, and wooden walkways had been built for visitors to reach buildings inside the compound from the road.&nbsp; Just a small number visited that day.&nbsp; Khlong Prem prison, situated in the same compound, had reopened for visitors three days earlier. </p>

<p>On 2 Nov, the Criminal Court dismissed a bail request for l&egrave;se majest&eacute; suspect Surachai Danwatthananusorn, citing that his alleged crimes carry severe punishment and affect the feelings of the public.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Thai history professor who is outspoken on issues concerning the monarchy now faces a complaint of l&egrave;se majest&eacute; filed by the Royal Thai Army, the independent news website Prachatai.com reported.</p>

<p>The Criminal Court has approved a police request to remand Surachai Danwatthananusorn for 12 days. </p>