On the Thai Authorities' Arrest of Paul Chambers

Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson The United States is alarmed by the arrest of U.S. citizen Paul Chambers in Thailand on là¨se majesté charges and the Computer Crimes Act, and we are closely monitoring the situation. The U.S. Department of State takes its responsibility to assist U.S. citizens abroad seriously, and we are in communication with Thai authorities regarding this case. This case reinforces our longstanding concerns about the use of là¨se majesté laws in Thailand. We continue to urge Thai authorities to respect freedom of expression and to ensure that laws are not used to stifle permitted expression. As a…