It makes my stomach turn, especially after having listened some weeks ago to conservative royalist Thai academics (who hold nice-sounding positions here and there) and how they see the Thai political world (with brains closed by their ideological stubbornness). It is a tragedy…
At least we can have confidence that the ones insulted have such compassion and benevolence that she will not serve a day more than is absolutely necessary.
DARUNEE CHARNCHOENGSILPAKUL – More commonly known as “Da Torpedo,” she delivered an exceptionally strong speech last year criticizing the 2006 coup and the monarchy. Her trial on lese majeste charges was closed for reasons of national security.
JAKRAPOB PENKAIR – A spokesman for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Jakrapob had to resign as a minister in the pro-Thaksin government in May 2008 after being accused of slandering the king in a talk at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) in 2007. Prosecutors are yet to decide whether to press charges against Jakrapob, whose whereabouts are unknown. He is also accused of inciting violence during anti-government protests in April.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS’ CLUB OF THAILAND BOARD OF DIRECTORS – Police are weighing up whether to investigate the 13-member FCCT board, which includes journalists from the BBC, Bloomberg and Wall Street Journal, after receiving a complaint from a staunch critic of Thaksin in July. Freelance translator Laksana Kornsil said the FCCT’s sale of a DVD containing Jakrapob’s disputed speech was an attempt to undermine the monarchy.
GILES UNGPAKORN – A leading leftist commentator and respected academic at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, Giles fled Thailand in February 2009 after being charged with lese majeste for a book criticizing the 2006 coup. Giles fled to London, claiming he would not receive a fair trial and accusing the military and current government of using lese-majeste laws to silence dissent. A Thai court issued an arrest warrant for him in March.
SUWICHA THAKHOR – Suwicha was jailed for 10 years in April 2009 for posting comments on the Internet that were deemed insulting to the monarchy. His sentence was reduced from 20 years after he pleaded guilty. His arrest in January came during a government crackdown on thousands of Web pages considered critical or disrespectful of the palace.
HARRY NICOLAIDES – An Australian author, English teacher and long-time resident of Thailand, Nicolaides was sentenced in January 2009 to three years in jail for defaming the crown prince in his 2005 novel ‘Verisimilitude’. Only seven copies of the book were sold. He received a royal pardon in February.
SULAK SIVARAKSA – A leading academic and long-time critic of the lese-majeste law, Sulak was taken from his Bangkok home late one night in November 2008 and driven 450 km (280 miles) to a police station in the northeast province of Khon Kaen. There he was charged with insulting the monarchy in a university lecture he gave in December the previous year.
CHOTISAK ONSOONG – The young political activist was accused by police in April 2008 of insulting the monarchy for refusing to stand during the royal anthem that precedes all movie screenings in Thailand. Prosecutors are still considering charges against him.
JITRA KOTCHADEJ – A union activist and friend of Chotisak, Jitra was fired by bosses at her clothing factory in August 2008 for appearing on a TV panel discussion wearing a T-shirt saying “Not standing is not a crime,” a reference to Chotisak.
OLIVER JUFER – The Swiss national was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2007 for spraying black paint on huge public portraits of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He was pardoned and deported after serving four months.
THis is a disgrace. Why is Thailand so primitive? Where is freedom of speech? Why aren’t we allowed to say what we think? Real Gold does not fear of fire! What are you scared of? The truth? Do we live in the dark age of 19th century or something? Shame on you – Thailand’s (in)justice system!
NEW BOOK!!
Living Silence in Burma: Christina Fink
The American author, Christina Fink has recently released a second edition of her book “Living Silence”. Fink has worked with Burmese communities for about 14 years.
In her pres release she jokingly explained the book is titled as such because, “People are not allowed to open their mouths.” ‘Living Silence’ in Burma does not mean people never talk, but rather conveys a message about the circumstances of Burmese civilians’ daily lives which are under so much pressure that they are afraid of saying the wrong thing by mistake, putting them into trouble at anytime. http://www.monnews-imna.com/newsupdate.php?ID=1528
Dear RN, funny I guess, but as so many, including yourself, seemed to want to debate the point I opened the thread with, I was happy to oblige, even though being in an obvious minority on New Mandala. Not a lot of point if it’s just going to being insults so if you find it so tiresome you can have a debate among just those that agree with your view.
Here’s a little test of Thai recent history with rumours which I have to admit I can’t give the answers to. Maybe you or some of the academics can confirm or deny their truth.
1/ In the late eighties, maybe early nineties, there were rumours that the two boys caught defacing Chalerm’s election poster in Thonburi were delivered to his house by the police. Were the rumours true and if so what did happen then?
2/ Probably even earlier, maybe mid-seventies, there was an assassination of village teacher while leading a protest march of villagers against an attempted land-grab by a prominent Chiang Mai family. The assassin was on the back of a motorbike and shot the teacher in front of the marching villagers. Is this rumour true and which Chiang Mai family was it?
LA: although as someone accused me of being an absolutist
Read what I wrote:
In Thai accademic community today, only a monarchist ..
Are you “in Thai academic community”? I honestly don’t think you’re even qualified!
And notice the word I use “monarchist” NOT “absolutist”, this is not trivial matter, if only you can pay attention. Didn’t I just argue in that post that “abolutist monarchy” in your pre-1932 sense is never an issue?
Actually, this Thai lese majeste case involving “Thailand’s Aung San”is even more outrageous than the kangaroo court that convicted Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma.
Daw Aung San got 18 months of house arrest in a trial that was open at times to foreigners and reporters and the nature of the charge, albeit contrived, was known to all.
Compare that to the Thai lady, Daranee, who got 18 years in a jail cell after a secret trial in which nobody knows what happened or what the accused said or did to supposedly insult the monarchy. It sounds like the 14 century Inquisition, doesn’t it ?
For the Thais’ sake, they had better hope that the international press doesn’t pick up on the label: “Thailand’s Aung San.” If they do, this is going to be a bigger PR disaster than the Thai autocrats orchestrating these lese majeste witch hunts ever imagined.
LA: The monarchy has in many ways become a straw man in arguments. It faces such a large problem with the future succession that its likelihood of going back to pre-1932 days is slim. Any reversion to feudalism must also be taken with a pinch of salt.
This is the arrogance and ignorace of a fool I talk about above. Anyone who have any serious knowledge of recent Thai history wouldn’t be stupid enough to even write like this. NO ONE, NOT LEAST THE REYALSTS THEMSELVES even think in terms of “going back to pre-1932” any more (and have not been for some 60-70 years already!) Anyone who even thinks that current situations and conflicts have anything to do with “going back to pre-1932” really need medical attention for being too lazy or too stupid to pay attention of what’s going on.
Please get hold of some current researches on modern Thai history and study them (preferably in Thai since in this area English language studies lacked far, far behind). The 1930s period which you are so scared of, are now generally considered by scholars to be under the People Party’s regime. There were deformities to be sure, but anyone who think of it in European Fascist terms shows total ignorance and arrogance of a fool.
R.N. England:
Which part of my post is incoherent? Or are you only capable of stupidly throwining cliche around? Are you sure you really know anything about modern Thai history, at least enough to argue with me?
P.S. Please note that Neither R.N. or LB is answering the issue I raise in my post above.
Apology to WM. But really sick of people who know little of the history of the country they’re talking about but continue to talke big as if they do.
I agree totally with these sentiments by FONZI. I believe that the silence will be deafening. NOT A BEEB WILL YOU HEAR FROM the American hypocrites.
Eighteen years in prison for a political speech? Unbelievable. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any instance in the modern era where a person has gotten 18 years in jail for making a political speech, even in the most authoritarian countries.
I guarantee all the western countries that make a big stink about saving journalists and advocating for free speech for political dissidents will be stone silent over this case.
I can’t still get my head around it. Eighteen years of life stripped away just for expressing political views. The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach.
Posted by Fonzi at 2:00 PM
Taro. In answer to your question what has the Royal Family done to her….. the point is no one can answer that, anyone who tried would get the same punishment as Da Torpedo
Poor Somsak is incoherent with rage at the tiresome Les Abbey. Relief may be in sight. Les Abbey appears to have promised to stop flooding New Madala with verbiage if people are less than polite to him.
Hey Reg, read your comments. However, people must be given choices. You can’t say that majority rules is wrong unless you are part of the minority who have ruled this for over 70 years. Let it go and listen to the people even if your kind may think that they are uneducated. Don’t forget one thing, they have HEART bigger than all your wealthy and so-called educated type combined.
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
Thailand’s royal disgrace
@redrobin #3
You can, as long as you’re not in Thailand.
Thailand’s royal disgrace
It makes my stomach turn, especially after having listened some weeks ago to conservative royalist Thai academics (who hold nice-sounding positions here and there) and how they see the Thai political world (with brains closed by their ideological stubbornness). It is a tragedy…
Thailand’s royal disgrace
At least we can have confidence that the ones insulted have such compassion and benevolence that she will not serve a day more than is absolutely necessary.
Thailand’s royal disgrace
@Taro
Eighteen years in jail for a political speech? And you think that’s justified?
How utterly contemptible.
Thailand’s royal disgrace
DARUNEE CHARNCHOENGSILPAKUL – More commonly known as “Da Torpedo,” she delivered an exceptionally strong speech last year criticizing the 2006 coup and the monarchy. Her trial on lese majeste charges was closed for reasons of national security.
JAKRAPOB PENKAIR – A spokesman for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Jakrapob had to resign as a minister in the pro-Thaksin government in May 2008 after being accused of slandering the king in a talk at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) in 2007. Prosecutors are yet to decide whether to press charges against Jakrapob, whose whereabouts are unknown. He is also accused of inciting violence during anti-government protests in April.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS’ CLUB OF THAILAND BOARD OF DIRECTORS – Police are weighing up whether to investigate the 13-member FCCT board, which includes journalists from the BBC, Bloomberg and Wall Street Journal, after receiving a complaint from a staunch critic of Thaksin in July. Freelance translator Laksana Kornsil said the FCCT’s sale of a DVD containing Jakrapob’s disputed speech was an attempt to undermine the monarchy.
GILES UNGPAKORN – A leading leftist commentator and respected academic at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, Giles fled Thailand in February 2009 after being charged with lese majeste for a book criticizing the 2006 coup. Giles fled to London, claiming he would not receive a fair trial and accusing the military and current government of using lese-majeste laws to silence dissent. A Thai court issued an arrest warrant for him in March.
SUWICHA THAKHOR – Suwicha was jailed for 10 years in April 2009 for posting comments on the Internet that were deemed insulting to the monarchy. His sentence was reduced from 20 years after he pleaded guilty. His arrest in January came during a government crackdown on thousands of Web pages considered critical or disrespectful of the palace.
HARRY NICOLAIDES – An Australian author, English teacher and long-time resident of Thailand, Nicolaides was sentenced in January 2009 to three years in jail for defaming the crown prince in his 2005 novel ‘Verisimilitude’. Only seven copies of the book were sold. He received a royal pardon in February.
SULAK SIVARAKSA – A leading academic and long-time critic of the lese-majeste law, Sulak was taken from his Bangkok home late one night in November 2008 and driven 450 km (280 miles) to a police station in the northeast province of Khon Kaen. There he was charged with insulting the monarchy in a university lecture he gave in December the previous year.
CHOTISAK ONSOONG – The young political activist was accused by police in April 2008 of insulting the monarchy for refusing to stand during the royal anthem that precedes all movie screenings in Thailand. Prosecutors are still considering charges against him.
JITRA KOTCHADEJ – A union activist and friend of Chotisak, Jitra was fired by bosses at her clothing factory in August 2008 for appearing on a TV panel discussion wearing a T-shirt saying “Not standing is not a crime,” a reference to Chotisak.
OLIVER JUFER – The Swiss national was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2007 for spraying black paint on huge public portraits of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He was pardoned and deported after serving four months.
Thailand’s royal disgrace
sad for Darunee
disgusted and ashamed that the Thai justice system is so perverted!
I hope the King is still alive enough to grant a pardon soon
I assume Prem, the Queen and the Prince are so scared of the Thai people that they support this legal atrocity
Thailand’s royal disgrace
THis is a disgrace. Why is Thailand so primitive? Where is freedom of speech? Why aren’t we allowed to say what we think? Real Gold does not fear of fire! What are you scared of? The truth? Do we live in the dark age of 19th century or something? Shame on you – Thailand’s (in)justice system!
Review of Taylor
NEW BOOK!!
Living Silence in Burma: Christina Fink
The American author, Christina Fink has recently released a second edition of her book “Living Silence”. Fink has worked with Burmese communities for about 14 years.
In her pres release she jokingly explained the book is titled as such because, “People are not allowed to open their mouths.” ‘Living Silence’ in Burma does not mean people never talk, but rather conveys a message about the circumstances of Burmese civilians’ daily lives which are under so much pressure that they are afraid of saying the wrong thing by mistake, putting them into trouble at anytime.
http://www.monnews-imna.com/newsupdate.php?ID=1528
Montesano on Thailand in April 2009
Dear RN, funny I guess, but as so many, including yourself, seemed to want to debate the point I opened the thread with, I was happy to oblige, even though being in an obvious minority on New Mandala. Not a lot of point if it’s just going to being insults so if you find it so tiresome you can have a debate among just those that agree with your view.
Here’s a little test of Thai recent history with rumours which I have to admit I can’t give the answers to. Maybe you or some of the academics can confirm or deny their truth.
1/ In the late eighties, maybe early nineties, there were rumours that the two boys caught defacing Chalerm’s election poster in Thonburi were delivered to his house by the police. Were the rumours true and if so what did happen then?
2/ Probably even earlier, maybe mid-seventies, there was an assassination of village teacher while leading a protest march of villagers against an attempted land-grab by a prominent Chiang Mai family. The assassin was on the back of a motorbike and shot the teacher in front of the marching villagers. Is this rumour true and which Chiang Mai family was it?
Montesano on Thailand in April 2009
LA:
although as someone accused me of being an absolutist
Read what I wrote:
In Thai accademic community today, only a monarchist ..
Are you “in Thai academic community”? I honestly don’t think you’re even qualified!
And notice the word I use “monarchist” NOT “absolutist”, this is not trivial matter, if only you can pay attention. Didn’t I just argue in that post that “abolutist monarchy” in your pre-1932 sense is never an issue?
Thailand’s royal disgrace
Taro, such an ignorant…
Ash what did Da do to them????
What..they have eveything in the world, the wealth…the power,,,and now they want a loyalty…ha ha …..
long live Kim jun mentally ill ……
Thailand’s royal disgrace
Actually, this Thai lese majeste case involving “Thailand’s Aung San”is even more outrageous than the kangaroo court that convicted Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma.
Daw Aung San got 18 months of house arrest in a trial that was open at times to foreigners and reporters and the nature of the charge, albeit contrived, was known to all.
Compare that to the Thai lady, Daranee, who got 18 years in a jail cell after a secret trial in which nobody knows what happened or what the accused said or did to supposedly insult the monarchy. It sounds like the 14 century Inquisition, doesn’t it ?
For the Thais’ sake, they had better hope that the international press doesn’t pick up on the label: “Thailand’s Aung San.” If they do, this is going to be a bigger PR disaster than the Thai autocrats orchestrating these lese majeste witch hunts ever imagined.
Montesano on Thailand in April 2009
LA:
The monarchy has in many ways become a straw man in arguments. It faces such a large problem with the future succession that its likelihood of going back to pre-1932 days is slim. Any reversion to feudalism must also be taken with a pinch of salt.
This is the arrogance and ignorace of a fool I talk about above. Anyone who have any serious knowledge of recent Thai history wouldn’t be stupid enough to even write like this. NO ONE, NOT LEAST THE REYALSTS THEMSELVES even think in terms of “going back to pre-1932” any more (and have not been for some 60-70 years already!) Anyone who even thinks that current situations and conflicts have anything to do with “going back to pre-1932” really need medical attention for being too lazy or too stupid to pay attention of what’s going on.
Montesano on Thailand in April 2009
Les Abbey:
“Pibul dictatorship”
Please get hold of some current researches on modern Thai history and study them (preferably in Thai since in this area English language studies lacked far, far behind). The 1930s period which you are so scared of, are now generally considered by scholars to be under the People Party’s regime. There were deformities to be sure, but anyone who think of it in European Fascist terms shows total ignorance and arrogance of a fool.
R.N. England:
Which part of my post is incoherent? Or are you only capable of stupidly throwining cliche around? Are you sure you really know anything about modern Thai history, at least enough to argue with me?
P.S. Please note that Neither R.N. or LB is answering the issue I raise in my post above.
Apology to WM. But really sick of people who know little of the history of the country they’re talking about but continue to talke big as if they do.
Thailand’s royal disgrace
I agree totally with these sentiments by FONZI. I believe that the silence will be deafening. NOT A BEEB WILL YOU HEAR FROM the American hypocrites.
Eighteen years in prison for a political speech? Unbelievable. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any instance in the modern era where a person has gotten 18 years in jail for making a political speech, even in the most authoritarian countries.
I guarantee all the western countries that make a big stink about saving journalists and advocating for free speech for political dissidents will be stone silent over this case.
I can’t still get my head around it. Eighteen years of life stripped away just for expressing political views. The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach.
Posted by Fonzi at 2:00 PM
Thailand’s royal disgrace
There will be wigs on the green yet.
In Ireland there is a saying ‘Tioce Ar La’.
Translated means OUR DAY WILL COME.
Thailand’s royal disgrace
There are Lese Majeste laws around the world and all laws are to be respected in any land.
Torpedo would be executed in Saudi, quietly jailed in Spain, Netherlands or Norway. In Thailand people make a big deal.
They do not understand that free speech does not mean that you are free to lie and insult other people.
Thailand’s royal disgrace
Taro. In answer to your question what has the Royal Family done to her….. the point is no one can answer that, anyone who tried would get the same punishment as Da Torpedo
Montesano on Thailand in April 2009
Poor Somsak is incoherent with rage at the tiresome Les Abbey. Relief may be in sight. Les Abbey appears to have promised to stop flooding New Madala with verbiage if people are less than polite to him.
Security forces prepare for next Thaksin phone-in
Hey Reg, read your comments. However, people must be given choices. You can’t say that majority rules is wrong unless you are part of the minority who have ruled this for over 70 years. Let it go and listen to the people even if your kind may think that they are uneducated. Don’t forget one thing, they have HEART bigger than all your wealthy and so-called educated type combined.