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UPI
3 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
American academic returning to U.S. after Thai charges dropped
Thai Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, seen here as crown prince in 2016. An American academic has been permitted to lave the country after prosecutors decided against prosecuting him on charges of insulting the monarchy. File Photo by Rungroj Yongrit/European Pressphoto Agency May 30 (UPI) -- An American academic facing up to 15 years in a Thai prison on allegations of insulting the monarchy has been permitted to leave the country, according to a nonprofit that advocates for Americans imprisoned abroad. Global Reach told UPI in an emailed statement that Paul Chambers was permitted to leave Thailand on Thursday after resolving what it called "false" lese-majeste charges. "I am relieved that this situation has been resolved," Chambers said in a statement. "I have always had great respect for the Thai royal family, and anyone who knows me understands that these charges were always based on false allegations by unnamed parties in the military." Chambers, a Thai studies scholar and lecturer at Thailand's Naresuan University, was arrested and charged by Thai authorities in April following a complaint filed against him by the military over an October online post promoting a webinar that he was to participate in. The English-language post was published on the website of Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. The academic webinar was on Thai studies, and Chambers, a leading expert on the Thai military and Southeast Asian politics, gave a talk about the Thai military. Chambers was not involved in the post's creation. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Chambers was allowed to leave the country after the Attorney General's Office announced Wednesday that prosecutors decided not to continue the case against the American. Prosecutors made the decision in early May, but the attorney general needed to affirm the decision. Chambers was originally detained April 9, but was later permitted to leave police custody and was required to wear an ankle monitor and surrender his U.S. passport and work visa, Global Reach said. Following his arrest, the U.S. State Department issued a statement saying it was monitoring Chambers' situation while condemning the controversial lese-majeste law. Kieran Ramsey, who worked with Chambers on behalf of Global Reach, praised the United States for its response to the case, saying, "This was one of the best responses I have ever seen from the U.S. government." According to Global Reach, Chambers will return to Oklahoma to see his family and will work from the United States. More than 270 people have been detained, prosecuted and punished under the lese-majeste laws since 2020, according to an expert panel from United Nations that said such laws "have no place in a democratic country."
Irish Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Death of Pope Francis - live updates: Funeral date to be set as Cardinals meet in the Vatican
22 minutes ago Main Points Pope Francis died on Monday aged 88 of a stroke and heart failure, Vatican doctors said His remains are to be transferred to St Peter's Basilica on tomorrow morning to allow the faithful to pray in their presence. Cardinals meet today to plan Pope Francis ' funeral, which could take place as early as Friday A conclave to choose a new pope normally takes place 15 to 20 days after the death of a pontiff, there is no clear front-runner Key reads: Obituary: Outsider pope who championed those at the margins Pope Francis: Pope Francis remembered as a leader who 'knew how to give hope' Opinion- Brendan Hoban: Whoever succeeds Pope Francis, the genie is now permanently out of the bottle Cardinal Kevin Farrell : Dublin-born Irish–American to run Vatican until pope elected 2 minutes ago All cardinals currently in Rome have been invited to gather in the Vatican at 9am on Tuesday (7am local time), where they were expected to make funeral plans . Cardinal Pablo Virgilio Siongco David, Bishop of Kalookan, touches a portrait of Pope Francis after a holy mass at the San Roque Cathedral in Caloocan City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on Tuesday. Photo: European Pressphoto Agency The Vatican has said it expects the ceremony to take place sometime between Friday and Sunday. In a break from tradition, Francis confirmed in his final testament released on Monday that he wished to be buried in Rome's Basilica of St Mary Major and not St Peter's Basilica. 5 minutes ago Much of the focus is now turning to what happens next. Cardinals are due to meet on Tuesday to plan Pope Francis ' funeral, which leaders from around the world will attend before a conclave next month to elect a new head of the Catholic Church . Francis's death set in motion ancient rituals, as the 1.4-billion-member Church started the transition from one pope to another, including the breaking of the pope's 'Fisherman's Ring' and lead seal so they cannot be used by anyone else . 11 minutes ago Tributes have been pouring in from around the world following the death of Pope Francis, who died on Monday. President Michael D Higgins led the tributes in Ireland, expressing his ' profound sadness ', saying Francis's voice constituted a 'consistent invocation of a shared humanity'. The pontiff died of a stroke and 'irreversible heart failure'. The death certificate, prepared by Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli, said the 88-year-old had fallen into a coma before his death early on Monday.
