The Nation’s Thanong Khanthong on criticism of the monarchy

Thanong Khanthong has been a vigorous and outspoken supporter of the People’s Alliance for Democracy and the 2006 military coup. In his column in the Nation (6 March 2009: “Lese majeste allows criticism but not abuse”) Thanong makes a claim that PPT considers simply wrong.

Thanong states that “I would argue that there is nothing wrong with the lese majeste law. Since Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, it must have a law to protect the monarchy from vandalism, libel and defamation. This is similar to the Netherlands’ Penal Code, in which there are three articles covering lese majeste.”

As far as PPT can determine, the last use of the law in the Netherlands was in October 2007, when a man was fined €400 for, amongst other things, calling Queen Beatrix a “whore” and describing several sexual acts he would like to perform on her to a police officer (from Wikipedia). The Netherlands seems not to use the law for political purposes.

Thanong then claims that “there is nothing wrong with anyone criticising the monarchy in a constructive or academic way. The Thai King is open-minded enough to listen to opinions. The foundation of the monarchy is strong enough to withstand criticism.”

These statements do not accord with the facts of the rise in lèse majesté cases and the political use of such charges in Thailand. Nor does Thanong produce any evidence that the the monarchy can indeed be criticized and nor does he comment on the cases of those who are accused, charged or imprisoned. In this context of an on-going campaign to “protect” the monarchy, Thanong’s repeated claims on this manner cannot be accepted.

The reason for Thanong’s claims is to question the motives of the academics who signed a petition for the amendment of the lèse majesté law rather than its abolition. Thanong tends to see plots everywhere, and concludes with a plea: “You have to truly understand and appreciate the Thai constitutional monarchy. Don’t be fooled by politicians, the police, public prosecutors and some academics.”

For a line-by-line critique, see Bangkok Pundit.

Red Siam manifesto

Global Voices Online (3 March: “Thailand: ‘Red Siam’ Manifesto”) has a brief account of Giles Ungpakorn’s Red Siam manifesto and some of the online commentary it has provoked.

Giles Ungpakorn at New Mandala; Amnesty International’s silence; Harry Nicolaides; and the royalist “can of worms”

New Mandala has just posted the first half of a wide-ranging interview with Giles Ji Ungpakorn. Giles is asked about his book A coup for the rich, his flight to England, lèse majesté and the role of the king in Thai society. New Mandala promises that the second part of the interview will be published in a few days and will ask Giles about Thaksin, the red-shirt movement and the People’s Alliance for Democracy, along with more personal reflections on academic work and his family history. New Mandala, 20 February 2009: “Special interview: Giles Ungpakorn, Part 1″.

At Bangkok Pundit, there is more debate and speculation regarding Amnesty International’s silence on lèse majesté, 20 February 2009: “Amnesty International and Lese Majeste” and Frank G. Anderson discusses the political ramifications of PAD’s royalism, UPI Asia.com, 20 February 2009: “Opening a can of Thai worms”.

Meanwhile, there is a story on Harry Nicolaides at the Australian newmatilda.com, 20 February 2009: “Less Majesty, More Justice”. In this case, one might also speculate on the silence of the Australian government.

Democracy, politics and lèse majesté

Giles Ji Ungpakorn has an op-ed at The Guardian website, 18 February 2009: “Thailand’s battle for democracy”. In Thai/ภาษาไทย here.

Meanwhile, at the Prachatai website, Nation journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk has an article that looks at the political fallout of Giles’ flight taht begins: “The unexpected flight of Chulalongkorn University political scientist Ji Ungpakorn last week to England to escape lese majeste charge has sent shock wave through Thai society.” Pravit comments on the responses Giles’ flight and his Red Siam manifesto, Prachatai, 18 February 2009: “Questions left behind by Ji Ungpakorn regarding Lese Majeste Law”.

Al Jazeera on Thailand, the law and the monarchy

Al Jazeera has a very useful 12-minute episode of its People & Power program that examines the monarchy and the political use of lèse majeste. The program touches on a number of cases currently under investigation and persons already jailed. It also refers to the Red Siam manifesto. Some websites claim that the episode is already blocked or banned in Thailand.

The Al Jazeera report is at People & Power, 14 February 2009: “Thai law”

It is also at AOL and YouTube.

Red Siam manifesto a threat to national security

According to Prachatai Aree Jiworarak, Director of the Information Technology Supervision Office of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, has asked internet service providers (ISPs) to block the Giles Ji Ungpakorn’s Red Siam manifesto. He asked ISPs to keep a ‘watch for the circulation of the article. And if your systems can enable filters to prevent access to it, please do so, as that would greatly benefit national security. Please act urgently.’ Prachatai, 14 February 2009: “MICT asks ISPs to block ‘Red Siam’”

In fact, some attempts to block access to sites publishing the manifesto began some days ago and included the Asia Sentinel site.

Frank G. Anderson has a story on a rightist nationalist reaction to Giles Ji Ungpakorn and his manifesto at UPIAsia, 13 February 2009: “Thai scholar abandons king and country”

Thailand’s climate of fear

The flight from Thailand of activist and scholar Giles Ji Ungpakorn has raised the already high political temperature in the country. Giles, charged with lèse majesté, asserts that he cannot receive a fair trial in Thailand. As Giles has been outspoken about the ways in which the military and other conservative forces in Thai society use the monarchy, a vast array of powerful forces have reason to silence him.

As PPT has reported in earlier posts, following the distribution of Giles’ Red Siam manifesto, there have been calls for stronger action against people considered by royalists to be seditious or treasonous. These calls follows a spate of lèse majesté charges that have been processed under the Democrat Party-led coalition government – one report claims there are now 30 such cases. The result is a climate of fear.

The release of the Red Siam manifesto has been taken by royalists and the right-wing as further evidence that there is a plot to depose the monarchy and establish a republic. PPT is concerned that the Thai government will now be even more aggressive in silencing those it associates with Giles and his manifesto.

It is said that all Thai academics who signed a petition Giles circulated are now under threat. The signatories, who were supporting freedom of speech and opposing the political use of lèse majesté, are worried that they may be the targets for royalist reaction. Another threat is to bloggers who are posting material considered to be anti-monarchy. It is widely believed that a round-up is possible. Even if these threats do not result in action, the fear is palpable.

Reinforcing this deep consternation amongst academics and political activists is a widely held belief that a cause for Giles’ flight was a personal message from a prominent figure with strong palace connections. The message was that Giles would get no leniency and would be imprisoned. Of course,  PPT cannot confirm this story, but the belief is that the Democrat-supported campaign on lèse majesté has the highest support.

PPT deplores the political uses of lèse majesté in Thailand and the climate of fear that this use and the threat of its use engenders in Thailand.

We urge all friends of Thailand to take action. Contact human rights organizations, embassies, government leaders and ministries and express concern/dismay/outrage at the political use of lèse majesté. Make these cases highly visible in the media, on the internet and for the international community.

Nidhi Eowsriwong on lesè majesté, freedom of speech, Giles Ungpakorn

In an earlier post, PPT commented on Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, a senior Manager columnist and appointed senator, attacking those who had signed a petition circulated by Giles Ungpakorn before his flight. Kamnoon mentioned academics associated with Midnight University.

Now Nidhi Eowsriwong from Midnight University has responded, asserting that those who supported the petition were also supporting the principle of freedom of speech.

The article refers to “climate of fear” and to “dozens of cases are being prosecuted” and the fact that the “Thai media has kept silent.”

Read the story at Prachatai, 12 February 2009: “Nidhi: signing the petition was for the principle of free speech”

The Manager/ASTV on rebellion and lèse majesté

Manager/Phujatkarn newspaper, owned by fellow lèse majesté accused Sondhi Limthongkul, has long provided inciting right-wing and highly nationalist commentary regarding lèse majesté cases. Sondhi led the ultra-nationalist and royalist PAD, which claimed to be protecting the monarchy.

The newspaper has been outspoken in its condemnation of Giles Ungpakorn. Prachatai has provided commentary on an interview on Sondhi’s ASTV with Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, a senior Manager columnist and an appointed senator, where he refers to Giles Ungpakorn’s Red Siam manifesto as rebellion.

Kamnoon also refers to others, including academics associated with the well-known Midnight University website, and calls for more assertive action against those considered to be committing lèse majeste. See Prachatai, 12 February 2009: “Manager columnist-turned-Senator considers Ji’s manifesto a rebellion”

Giles Ji Ungpakorn flees Thailand

The lesè majesté case against Giles Ji Ungpakorn was due to be heard in Thai court today, Monday, 9 February. Giles, who holds both Thai and British citizenship,  fled to England. He said, “It is clear that the charge is really about preventing any discussion about the relationship between the military junta and the monarchy,” adding, “This is in order to protect the military’s sole claim to legitimacy: that it acted in the interests of the monarchy.” Giles stated that he did not believe that he would get a fair trial.

Read about it here in The Guardian,  “British professor flees Thailand after charges of insulting king”.

Giles’s most recent statement, the Red Siam Manifesto, 9 February 2009, can be read in English here, and in ภาษาไทย here.

By 11:45 GMT, neither The Nation nor Bangkok Post had dared release this news.  The Nation finally posted a story about 17:00 GMT, dated 10 February 2009: “Ji ‘flees’ to London to ‘escape’ lese majeste charge”; the use of inverted commas is interesting sub-editing. The Post finally reported at 21:45 GMT, 10 February 2009: “Lese majeste suspect flees”. Prachatai had reproduced The Guardian’s report almost as soon as it appeared along with the Red Siam manifesto (but self-censors) and the call by RWB for a cyberdemonstration on Harry Nicolaides.

Update: Prachatai site now has the Red Siam reported this way:

Giles’ `Red Siam’ manifesto

09 February 2009
News

After fleeing Thailand to the UK, Giles Ji Ungpakorn, on Feb 9, releases his ‘manifesto’ first in Thai and subsequently in English with some modifications. The ‘manifesto’ is so strong, one of the strongest statements made by an identifiable Thai individual in decades, that Prachatai has to censor parts of it.

CENSORED

Due to Thailand’s Article 112 of the Criminal Code and computer-related law, Prachatai provides no links to Giles’ statement, both in Thai and English. Just use your search engine of choice.