Giles Ji Ungpakorn

Giles Ji Ungpakorn / ใจ อึ๊งภากรณ์ was an Associate Professor of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. He is also a prolific writer on Thai affairs and activist with the Workers’ Democracy party. Additional information, including Thai and other language translations of A Coup for the Rich and the statements mentioned below can be found on Giles Ji Ungpakorn’s blog.

Giles fled Thailand in February 2009. One of the lese majeste cases was due to be heard in Tai court on 9 February 2009. Giles, who holds both Thai and British citizenship,  left for England, stating, “It is clear that the charge is really about preventing any discussion about the relationship between the military junta and the monarchy,” and adding, “This is in order to protect the military’s sole claim to legitimacy: that it acted in the interests of the monarchy.” He was concerned that he  would not receive a fair trial.

In March 2009, a Thai court issued a warrant for his arrest.

In early November 2009, Giles was again accused of lese majeste. The charge relates to his Red Siam blog. A group of self-proclaimed nationalists made complaints to the police. This is an interesting complaint as it relates to alleged offenses committed outside Thailand, so will be followed with considerable interest.

In early 2011, Ji’s Thailand’s Crisis and the fight for Democracy was officially banned in Thailand, more than a year after it was published. This means that no one is permitted to import it to the country. Ji claims, however, that the now-banned book has almost sold out when the ban was announced. He has a Thai language version available for free download.

According to Matichon, there are four cases against him: คดีพิเศษที่ 399/53 (lese majeste), คดีพิเศษที่ 400/53 (lese majeste), คดีพิเศษที่ 404/53 (lese majeste) and คดีพิเศษที่ 17/54 (treason). เผยแพร่แผ่นซีดีบันทึกภาพและเสียง พร้อมด้วยไฟล์เอกสารเนื้อหาล้มล้างการปกครองในระบอบประชาธิปไตยอันมีพระมหากษัตริย์ทรงเป็นประมุข . The first for writing something on a web site, the second for writing a book (we assume A Coup for the Rich), the third for comments he made at a seminar at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. The latter comments were also said to be carried on a web site and the last appears to relate to a CD and an audio recording that the police claim was meant to “overthrow the democratic government with the King as Head of State.” We assume this refers to his Red Manifesto (see below).

Ji remains in exile.

Key documents regarding the case:

A Coup for the Rich, by Giles Ji Ungpakorn

Police summons for Giles Ji Ungpakorn to appear on charges of lèse majesté.

Giles Ji Ungpakorn’s statements about the case:

25 March 2009, Giles responds to claims he “ran away” from  lesè majesté charges: English-language version (“I do not run away, I fight!”)  ภาษาไทย (ผมไม่หนี ผมสู้คดีครับ (1) และ ผมไม่หนี ผมสู้คดีครับ (2) )

Giles Ungpakorn spoke at SOAS, London, on 23 February 2009. A YouTube video, in 4 parts, is now available, with Part 1 here

Media reports on Ji’s cases:

Matichon, 3 January 2011: “เปิดบัญชีคดีพิเศษ”ดีเอสไอ” 33 คดีเข้าข่ายหมิ่นเบื้องสูง“

Guardian, 18 February 2009: “Thailand’s battle for democracy”

9 February 2009: The Red Siam Manifesto — in English here, and in ภาษาไทย here.

27 January 2009: Does Thailand have a Human Rights Commision?

23 January 2009, Why the Lèse Majesté law in Thailand is an abomination

20 January 2009, Details of lèse majesté charges against Giles Ji Ungpakorn

13 January 2009, Press Statement by Associate Professor Giles Ji Ungpakorn Regarding Lèse Majesté Charges

Commentary and interviews:

New Mandala, 20 February 2009: “Special interview: Giles Ungpakorn, Part 1” and New Mandala, 23 February 2009: “Special interview: Giles Ungpakorn, part 2”. The interview is now available in Thai at New Liberal: It is availablehere/สัมภาษณ์พิเศษ: ใจ อึ้งภากรณ์.

Well-known Thailand scholar Michael Connors has weighed in on this case at his blog Sovereign Myth: “Lèse majesté and Solidarity: the Case of Ji Giles Ungpakorn”.

For a flavour of the kind of incendiary attacks being made on Giles and his supporters by the Manager newspaper and other right-wing and nationalist-royalists, translated to English, visit the 2bangkok.com.

News about the cases:

Reporters Without Borders, 4 December 2009: “King asked to pardon Internet users prosecuted on lese majeste or national security charges”

Bangkok Post, 10 November 2009: “Lese majeste complaint against Thaksin”

Financial Times, 25 March 2009: “Arrest warrant for Thai academic in lese-majeste case”

Reuters, 25 March 2009: “Warrant issued for Thai academic who fled to London”

Prachatai, 18 February 2009: “Questions left behind by Ji Ungpakorn regarding Lese Majeste Law”

UPIAsia, 13 February 2009: “Thai scholar abandons king and country”

The Oxford Mail, 10 February 2009, “Royal rumpus over Thai book”

Asia Sentinel, 10 February 2009: “Red Siam Manifesto”

Index on Censorship, 9 February 2009: “Interview”

Committee to Protect Journalists, 9 January 2009: “Writer goes into exile over Thai lese majeste charges”

IHT, 9 February 2009: “Thai professor flees to England after alleged insult to monarchy”

The Guardian, 9 February 2009,  “British professor flees Thailand after charges of insulting king”

Marwaan Macan-Markar, IPS, 27 January 2009, “Don challenges lese majeste law — risks jail term”

MRzine, 21 January 2009: “Thailand: Drop Lèse Majesté Charges against Giles Ji Ungpakorn“

Associated Press, 20 January 2009, “Thai academic charged with insulting the king”

Asia Sentinel, 19 January 2009, “Thai activist Ungpakorn faces charges today”

Asia Sentinel, 12 January 2009, “Thai Critic Ungpakorn to be Charged with Lèse Majesté”

Take action:

Socialist Worker calls for advocacy on behalf of Ji Ungpakorn, 3 February 2009, “Defend this key Thai socialist”

On 27 January 2009, English PEN called for action in support of Ji’s case here.