Comments

Not sure if this is welcome by all, but I think that given Harry’s book, and his efforts at writing it, and the fact that it has been sent to a lot of people via email, that it would be a nice gesture if those who received it are able to provide some sort of compensation for Harry for their copy. The Free Harry website has a bank account no., but not certain whether this is the best way to go. Any comments or suggestions?
Frank

Good news indeed.

This shows that there is still some sense in the Thai authority involved in Lèse majesté cases. While this may never repair the damage done, it certainly eases up the tension surrounding the case. I see it as a good gesture extended by the Thai people towards foreigners as have been done in many cases before Harry Nicolaides. But don’t look at it as a step in the direction of abolishment of the Lèse majesté law. As I see it, Thailand is still a long way from that.

Don’t be sorry, I only want to know what your impression is (which I looked at in the Harry Nicolaides comments) — from many impressions it’s possible to make an analysis. The reason I refer to Craig Reynolds, kjf, Ralph Kramden, (also David Brown and nganadeeleg) as I look over this whole thread is that they are talking about this with distance, which is what I really should have said instead of referring to ‘objectivity’.. Even if you do have a leaning to one side or another, there doesn’t need to be a ‘the other team are wrong, buy up your hay bails and pitch forks now’, type response — which was the issue for me in the comments, not the content of the post itself. I am sorry for having bitten your response initially, but you see I am very bored and lonely at work, so being a tit comes easily.

What is it for you? is the question that I misreferenced. That seemed, and seems to me to be a bit wide open to the idea that each person has his or her own impression and there is no real valid analysis possible.
Sorry.

It is crytal clear who works for or against who; why Mr. Abhisit bothers saying superfluous words?

All are one side of the untrue information. Mr. Sonthi ,one of the main PAD leaders , used to praise Taksin as the best prime minister Thailand has ever had since 1932. He became hatred Taksin when not getting some favor benifits from Taksin. Every Thai knew that. Actually ,Sonthi has been bankrupted and done everthing for himself.

Ahbisit’s admission that it appeared official elements had towed the Roohinya out to sea and abandoned them was refreshingly frank, but failed to go far enough. He says he’s trying to find out who did it. I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting. No-0ne is going to step forward and admit guilt.
Ahbisit’s statement that the refugees were fleeing economic not political persecution is a meaningless distinction since one of the ways the Burmese regime is accused of carrying out political persecution is to to punish people economically, such as by burning their villages, stealing their animals, destroying their crops and sowing poison in their land.
Ahbisit would know this perfectly well, of course, since he’s a very smart and outward-looking person. Unfortunately, he appears to be a prisoner of the competing powers in Thailand at the moment and, since he appears to owe his position at least partly to tacit military support for the Democrats and his power does not rest on a popular majority of votes, I guess we can expect to see him walking a tightrope for some time to come. Perhaps elections would be a good idea later this year – if they delivered a popular majority to Ahbisit and the Democrats, and did not result in a revival of the Thaksin faction, which is, of course, a very big danger.
It is, of course, true that Thailand has a perfect right to defend its borders and favour its citizens over refugees from neighbouring countries. But Thailand also has international obligations to observe, and right now the eyes of the world are not too impressed with what they’re seeing. In such an environment, my opinion is that les majeste prosecutions just make the current government look weak and desperate.

In response to some who had asked people to respect Thai laws and who argued that Thais have the right to think and decide for themselves, I have this to say.

First, I’m a Thai and I must say that I’m totally embarrassed by this draconian Thai law. Furthermore, the abusive enforcement of the law in recent years have caused widespread fear among the all Thais. This is clearly a repressive law.

When you say that Thais have the right to think and decide for themselves, I must ask who are the the Thais that decided in favor of the law? Certainly not me or any of my peers who are among the educated Thais. And not even by the majority of Thais who have been completely brainwashed by the constant propaganda for the royal family since I can remember. And I’m 50 years old.

This law was introduced since the era of the authoritarian military junta with no insignificant changes over the past 30 years. The law have never been put forward for public discussion. Even if it was, no one would dare discuss it openly.

One reason that Harry Nicolaides’ case, as in any other cases involving foreigners, have not received much publicity in Thailand and elsewhere is because the Thai authority have coerced the Thai media not to report the case. They have also been successful in persuading the people involved to keep quiet by suggesting the less publicity the case received, the more chance that the subject would get a royal pardon.

But Kavi is a supporter of both the PAD and the Democrat Party. I doubt if he is going to do much.

If you have been reading the Nation for the past months, it looks as if the paper has been the mouthpiece of the PAD and the Democrat. There is Pravit, however, who is perhaps the only one criticises the PAD and the Democrat.

1.Ann.Pado Mahn Sha,
Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan, General Secretary of the Karen National Union, was assasinated on 14th February 2008.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lunswe/1stPDMS#