Two men were released from jail Friday after receiving pardons for insulting Thailand's revered monarchy, according to the kingdom's prison authorities. Warawut Thanangkorn, 54, an activist for the "Red Shirt" movement loyal to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was freed from a three-year term early after a 2010 conviction for committing lese majeste.
He was found guilty of criticising Thailand's queen in a speech to Red Shirts. A shoe repair man, Suriyan Kokpoei, 30, was also freed following his 2010 jailing for a bomb hoax to a Bangkok hospital caring for the nation's ailing King. "They were released this morning," Sorasit Chongjaroen, superintendent of Bangkok Remand Prison said.