BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Friday she would not seek to change the country's harsh royal defamation law despite outcry over the death of a grandfather jailed for the offence.
Ampon Tangnoppakul, 62, who was dubbed 'Uncle SMS', died on Tuesday inside Bangkok prison hospital, while serving a 20-year sentence for sending text messages deemed insulting to the monarchy in 2010.
His death prompted renewed calls for reform of Thailand's lese majeste law, with the prime minister's supporters - known as Red Shirts - leading the clamour for change.
'I want to reaffirm that my government policy is to stay put,' Ms Yingluck said in response to questions about possible reform of the law.
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