Thai Man Jailed for Insulting King Dies in Detention A retired truck driver whose 20-year prison term for sending text messages insulting Thailand's monarchy highlighted the harshness of the country's lèse-majesté laws died in prison on Tuesday, his lawyer said. Ampon Tangnoppakul, 61, was sentenced in November to five years for each of four text messages sent from his mobile phone. Critics of Thailand's lèse-majesté laws, which are being used with greater frequency in the twilight of the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 84, have seized on the case as evidence that the laws are antiquated and abused for political purposes. Mr. Ampon's death is likely to sharpen the debate over the laws and the place of the monarchy in society, an issue laden with emotion in Thailand. Mr. Ampon, who is widely referred to as "Uncle SMS," was repeatedly denied bail despite a history of cancer. The court ruled last year that Mr. Ampon was a flight risk and that his condition "did not appear to be fatal." His lawyer, Anon Numpa, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday that prison may have worsened his condition. Mr. Ampon complained of stomach pains last week and was sent to a prison hospital, where he died. An autopsy was being performed Tuesday, Mr. Anon said. "His condition would have been better had he been on the outside," he said. Mr. Anon said his client maintained his innocence and had been in the process of applying for a royal pardon. The text messages were received by a senior government official in May 2010, a time of high political passions in Thailand when troops were clashing with protesters on the streets of Bangkok. Mr. Ampon told the court that he did not know how to send text messages. Articles published in the Thai press discussed the possibility that his mobile phone's identity may have been pirated. The court, however, said it was convinced beyond a doubt that the defendant "was the person who sent those four messages." The messages damaged the reputation of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit and could incite hatred against them, the court said. Although it did not reveal the content of the text messages the court said they went against the "evident" fact that the king and queen "are full of mercy and concerned about the entire population." Thailand's laws forbid anyone from defaming, insulting or threatening leading members of the royal family and offenses carry a prison sentence of up to 15 years for each count. There are also related laws against "computer crimes." Groups of writers and academics in Thailand say the laws squelch open discussions about the monarchy and have called for them to be repealed or rewritten. In a handwritten note to his lawyer from prison last month, Mr. Ampon said he was "often disheartened," and missed his wife and grandchildren."I'm trying to be patient," he said. I have high hopes that I will get freedom soon.