Thailand | Parents of ex-princess jailed for insulting monarchy

Thailand’s Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, right, with Princess Srirasmi

The parents of the now-estranged wife of Thailand’s crown prince have been sentenced to two and a half years in prison on charges of defaming the monarchy, in the latest legal action against relatives of the former princess, who until recently was in line to be the country’s next queen. The well-publicized split of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and his third wife, former Princess Srirasmi, has been accompanied by a public shaming of a number of her family members, who have been accused of insulting the monarchy, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Yesterday, a court found Srirasmi’s parents had misused the crown prince’s name during a dispute in 2003 with a neighbor who was then prosecuted on a bogus fraud charge.

Philippines | 23 Muslim rebels killed in clashes with military

Officials say Philippine troops have killed at least 23 Muslim rebels in renewed clashes in the restive south, raising the insurgents’ death toll in a three-week government offensive to nearly 100. The offensive was launched against a renegade rebel group called the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which is blamed for the Jan. 25 deaths of 44 police commandos who stormed the rebel stronghold in search of top terrorist suspects. The military reported Monday that 73 rebels and a suspected foreign militant were killed since the offensive began Feb. 25. Military spokesman Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said yesterday that additional 73 died when fresh fighting broke out in Maguindanao province. Two marines were also killed and 72,000 people displaced. The main Muslim rebel group has signed a peace deal.