The Law Is The Law In Thailand

ddkity82

By : Lar West
Submitted 2011-03-31 04:54:20 While in a secret country, an U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and rules or customs, which sometimes differ quite from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the person under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the rules of a government can be more arduous than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Thai rules of a government, even unknowingly, may be expelled, taken into custody or imprisoned.
In this connection, it is a criminal offense to make negative comments about the King or other members of the royal family. Thais hold the King in the highest regard, and it is a serious crime to make critical or defamatory comments about him. This particular crime, called â€œlese majeste,â€ is punishable by a prison sentence of three to fifteen years. Purposely tearing or destroying Thai bank notes, which carry an image of the King,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], may be considered such an offense, as can spitting on or otherwise defiling an official uniform bearing royal insignia.
The Thai Government has publicly stated that it will not tolerate the use of Thai territory as a base by groups trying to overthrow or destabilize the governments of nearby countries. Numerous American citizens have been seized or detained under suspicion of carrying out such activities; sometimes these detentions are carried out by military authorities, and the Embassy does not learn of them until many days after the fact. Many other Americans suspected of advocating the armed overthrow of other governments have been "blacklisted" from entering the country. Americans should be aware that attempts to overthrow foreign governments by force may violate U.S. rules of a government as well as Thai law.
Penalties for the possession of, use of, or bartering in illegal drugs in Thailand are involved. Convicted offenders can expect long prison sentences under harsh conditions, and often heavy fines as well. Thailand also has a death penalty for serious drug offenses, and has executed convicted traffickers. The U.S. Embassy frequently does not learn of the arrest of U.S. citizens for minor drug offenses, particularly in southern Thailand, until several days after the incident.
Engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.
Thai police occasionally raid discos, bars, or nightclubs looking for underage patrons and drug users. During the raids, they typically check the IDs of all customers in the establishment, and then make each person provide an urine sample to be checked for narcotics. Foreigners are not excused from these checks, and anyone whose urine tests positive for drugs is taken into custody and charged. Although some Thai civil libertarians have questioned the constitutionality of these forced urine tests, the Embassy is unaware of any successful challenge to the practice, and customers can be jailed if they do not cooperate.
Don't be stupid. Know the laws of Thailand before you visit.