No doubt the government is doing everything they can to suck up to the King of Thailand. There is obviously no other option in the face of this crappy law that you rightly suggest is not going to change because we wish it.

“Corby v Nicolaides is a pretty decent comparison, as they both did something that would be illegal here too, just not sentenced as harshly.”

FDB @89 the point surely is, that Harry was found guilty of a crime under Thailands ‘lese majeste’ law. He is no way guilty of anything that is found here unless you are confusing matters with our local defamation law. Corby on the other hand may well have been found guilty of a drug trafficking here, obviously with less cruel a punishment, in the relentless and stupid similar war on drugs.

No nation is going to back down and say to Australia “You’re right, we are barbarians, what were we thinking?”

Thais especially hate it when foreigners intervene in their affairs, they are quite capable of cutting off their own nose to spite their face and if Australia tried to apply any kind of diplomatic pressure they would tell us to piss off, and probably put up trade sanctions while they were at it.

Doing so would hurt them a lot more than it would hurt us, but that has never worried the Thais before.

Corby like Harry N should have known more than the average punter about Bali (indonesian). I’ve supported getting Corby back to Oz as I have getty Harry The Novelist back by contacting my local member and etc. I was disgusted that that poor bastard from Drink or Die was extradited to USA for a prison stint for cracking a few software programs.

My experience is that getting hysterical in Oz about something has not resulted in a change in laws in other countries. I’d be happy to see evidence proving me wrong.

Anyway I’m off to Chinese New Year in Box Hill

[NB: this is paid journo fact checking NOT unpaid blogger speculation]

Harry N is obviously an indulgent naif: Reminds me of a relative whose son had a brush with police – relative said “It’s nothing to worry about” After I pushed a bit – car siezed, licence lost, 5 hour interview with police after avoiding them for 2 months – but nothing serious!!!!

My view was that innocent or guilty her sentence was about 20 years too long. However, accepted wisdom now seems to be that we must respect the sovereign rights of other countries. I had thought that there ought to be limits to the sovereignty doctrine. That if we accept 20 years (or death) for smuggling pot then we’re not far from accepting stoning for adultery or the guillotine for jaywalking. But it seems I was wrong, since I cannot detect even the slightest whiff of sympathy for the unfortunate young lady in Bali.

So be it. I will bow to the views of the masses and withhold sympathy or actions in support of Mr Nicolaides.

From what I understand he returned to Thailand after he was slated to be arrested – but I might be wrong.

So the publicity tour wasn’t a complete failure?

FXH, I hope you’re right and he’s pardoned son, but I doubt it actually.

Particularly like the bit in the economist about the Americans paying to put a portrait in every Thai home during the Vietnam war..calling Katz/GregM.

I applaud the Economist for discovering an example of successful American diplomacy.

Has the journalist been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize?