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Thailand's Royalists Strike Again

Written by Our Correspondent

Saturday, 07 March 2009

Page 1 of 2

Another independent figure is arrested on lese majeste charges

Any hope that the new Democrat Party government of Prime Minister Vejjajiva Abhisit, who is usually described as "urbane" and "Oxford-educated," would lighten up on the war against free expression ended Friday when two van-loads of police descended on the offices of Prachatai, a leading independent Thai-language website in Bankgkok, to arrest Chiranut Prempreecha, the woman who founded the website and serves as its coordinator.

Chiranut was later taken to Bangkok's Payatai Police Station for questioning, as red-shirted protesters thronged the area, and charged with carrying Internet content on Prachatai that threatens national security. The charges carry a maximum five-year jail sentence. The website has a reputation for carrying content that Thai newspapers shy away from publishing, including articles and messages critical of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the increasingly frail octogenarian monarch, and the hangers-on around him.

The police refused to comment to the press on the charges against Chiranut, saying they were "too sensitive." In the past, Thai officials have likened the use of lese majeste laws to national security measures such as those airlines employ to search passengers, although passenger searches normally do not have the potential for 15-year jail sentences from compliant courts.

Chiranut is the latest in a string of journalists and others who have been hauled in by police on allegations they had violated the country's strict laws against insulting Thailand's monarchy, which have been extended to include not just the royal family but officers of the court, the Buddhist hierarchy and probably the king's butcher, baker and candlestick maker.

As many as 3,000 websites have been shut down, supposedly for being critical of the country's royalty, including briefly the Asia Sentinel for stories critical of the use of the laws against dissent. Giles Ji Ungpakorn, a political science professor at Chulalongkorn University who published articles in Asia Sentinel that were critical of the monarchy and the 2006 coup that the royalty backed, was arrested in January on lese majeste charges and ultimately fled the country. Ungpakorn, who holds dual British and Thai citizenship, said he did not believe he could get a fair trial in the country.

People have been arrested and charged for offences as slight as not standing up for the royal anthem in a movie theater. A would-be novelist and teacher who included one paragraph about the unpopular and unstable crown prince, Maha Vajiralongkorn, in a three-year-old novel that sold fewer than 10 copies was jailed for three years. At least 11 people remain in jail or charged. Offenders of the lese majeste law face a potential of 15 years in jail.

According to the website Political Prisoners in Thailand (http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com), 50 international scholars and dignitaries have signed a letter to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, urging the government to reform the law and requesting that the government release those already convicted.

"They are charged for expressing their ideas. This should not be a crime," the letter states.

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Strike Hard
written by Sirikit, March 08, 2009

Strike hard again and again for the great cause of the Royalist Military Elites. People Against Democracy is our tool.

I will keep my mouth shut
written by sweenwalker, March 08, 2009

I will keep my mouth shut, I will tune my ears off, I will not look. We are living in climate of fear!

...
written by jessy girl, March 08, 2009

If they keep on pressing , one day things will explode . They can write the law to force our action , but can they force how we think? No wonder that Thailand never was a democracy.

Their days are numbered.
written by Philips Holland, March 08, 2009

Those anti-democratic royalists are all coming to their end soon.

The land of fear
written by Jimmy Hogan, March 09, 2009

Thailand has become the land of fear. The land where all people must obey to every words that the royal family said. The land where people are not allowed to express themself openly, the land where evil prevails. The land where all the people must not think differently. It is becoming more like Iraq at the time when Saddam Hussein was still in power. The Iraqis were living in fear. The walls and the ceilings have ears. People who think differently were taken from their homes and bury alive. Nobody were allowed to speak against their leader. Every words that Suddam Hussein spoken must be obeyed without any argument. His words become laws. He was like a god in Iraq. His family lived lavishly, eventhough most Iraqis were poor. His eldest son had many mistresses. He would snatch any ladies from any men arms. The Hussein family were very powerful. But look at the end of all dictators, not a single one die at natural cause, Hitler, Idi Amin, Suddam Hussein and many others. I wonder who will be the next dictator after Suddam Hussein?

You people get carried away :)
written by shan, March 11, 2009

So Thailand is not a democracy and freedom of speech is curtailed.
What's new?

A popular misconception is that Thailand under Thaksin was "on the way to more democratic structures". That's rubbish. A difference is that Thaksin bankrupted his enemies (the "big" ones, the smaller ones were swiftly dealt with in unbureaucratic ways - more often than not by plainclothes policemen) and the PAD-sanctioned administration jails them. Politically and in effect the same result: Opposition is fine but don't mess with us or else....

I find most leaders of the alleged "pro democracy" faction - sinister and vicious figures like the Yoobamrung clan that claim nepotism just as much a birth-right as the royals - much more frightening.

Not surprising
written by Rodent, March 11, 2009

Thailand has been like this for 200 years, let it run like this for another year wouldnt hurt us too much. Anyway, when the royalist party take over, did anyone expect something otherwise?

-2

Asiasentinel is being blocked
written by Big Brother, March 16, 2009

It is becoming increasingly more difficult to access the Asiasentinel website here in Thailand. We are being redirected to the ICT Ministry website instead.

Kingdom of Illusions
written by Bad Dog, March 20, 2009

BAD DOG IN DA HOUSE:

"Rome wasn't built in a day", my young friends.

Your rage against injustice (perceived or real) echoes that of Acharn Sulak's eloquent address printed in today's (March 20) Bangkok Post on this very topic. 'History is written in blood' as they say, and while I have given a few drops of mine (metaphorically) to the forces of progress here, Sulak has given much more - and you can never have enough street-cred.

I commend you for your principles, but it's a complex world out there and things will probably not seem as black and white to any of you in a few years. Rule #1 in Thailand for intellectuals and wannabees for as long as I can remember has been 'learn for yourself'.

Why? Because Thailand is a dangerous country where life is held cheap except for the powerful and privelidged of the elite, therefore you need the best teacher you can get i.e. experience. Then, if you seek confirmation of what you believe you have learned from a friendly Thai, they will probably confirm it AND give you a bit more to go on with.

In 30 years here I have discovered no shortcuts: true respect is not given, it has to be earned.

The good news is that time is on your side, so go on be a BAD DOG - there are enough Good Dogs content with a pat on the head and dog food out there already.

BAD DOG OUT!

...
written by The truth, March 28, 2009

Just wait and see what happen in the next few years. The king is much older now how much longer can he rules the country?????

Truth is stranger than fiction
written by Bad Dog, April 03, 2009

In Thailand (as in England), the monarch REIGNS but does not RULE.

Of course, there are differences, but in this respect they are very similar.

Moreover, unlike their PMs, these monarchs have no political mandate from the voting public - something which those concerned appear to understand very well, even if others pretend they do not.

-2

We need People's Revolution in Thailand for Democracy and Liberty!
written by Proletariate Class Worker, January 31, 2010

Thailand reminds me of North Korea and Saddam Hussein's Iraq and China. I have to admit that the Thai King really looks like a fascist dictator or a typical despot leader who to approved fascist lese majeste law to oppress the people's rights so that he can continue to rule the country and enjoy the power. In Thailand, defending national security means defending the rich elite dictators like the monarchs and they do not defend democracry and the citizens but they bully and harrass the citizens instead. Reminds me of the Chinese Tianamen Square Massacre Censorship and harrasment by Chinese authorities in which the Chinese claimed that it is an act of defending the homeland security (Very funny). Lese Majeste is a joke. Shame on them.

Unlike England, Thai Monarchy cannot exist while there is Thai Democracy and Free Speech because Democracy and Free Speech are obstacles to the monarchs' power and the rich elites' power in Thailand.

I feel sorry for these innocent people who became victims of these terrorists who rules the country. God Bless them. smilies/cry.gif

The Thai Royalists and the royal family must go to either the international court or Thai court for violation against UN declaration of human rights and international laws just like it happened to Saddam Hussein and those who collaborate with the Thai Monarchy Regime and promoting climate of fear, must be punish too. We need another French Revolution but this time, it will be in Thailand and it will be known as the "People's Revolution" or the "Proletariate's Struggle and War against rich Dictators" in the name of Democracy and Liberty. Long Live Democracy!!! Long Live Republic!!!