Thailand dives into ridicule : a fourth lese-majeste complaint against BBC’s journalist !

And a new one ! The fourth !

After the fanatic cop (3 complaints against J.Head), helped by the british useful idiot, here is the fanatic thai translator ! And to change : a woman.

All against Jonathan Head, the BBC’s journalist in Bangkok, and included the whole board of the FCCT. All fighting for the thai monarchy, seriously endangered by vicious attacks coming from the New Little Satan : the BBC.

G.Orwell is your auteur de chevet ? You feel close to Goebbels ? You like mind control ? And overall, you cherish surrealism and non-sense ?

You should therefore celebrate Thailand and its famous lese-majeste law. A law that allows every man, woman, child, plant and probably every living organisms (including germs and virus) to fill a complaint for lese-majeste against anybody.

The point is : the thai authorities can’t (and don’t want to) amend this stupid law. And a thai police officer would never discard such complaint… Fear. Fear.

And that’s the deadly trap : the lese-majeste law is sustainable only if it’s not used.

The lese-majeste is a bomb blowing off in the thai authorities hands. Over and over again. The more inane people are filling charges, the more the bomb is blowing off. They are trapped.

ASTV Manager reports that today (June 30) at 9:30pm, a Miss Luksana Kornsilpa aged 57 and a translator and adviser in the private sector filed a lese majeste complaint with Lt. Col. Decha of the Lumpini Police Station to proceed with a case against Jonathan Head of the BBC and the 13 committee members of the FCCT for selling the DVD of Jakrapob’s presentation at the FCCT on August 29, 2007.

She states that she filed the complaint as a Thai who loves the monarchy and she says that the FCCT arranging for Jakrapob to speak and the selling of the DVD falls within the category of wanting to bring down the monarchy and destroy national security. (Bangkok Pundit)

Let’s see how our dashing Prime Minister, Abhisit, is going to handle the situation… Let’s see what kind of cheap rethoric he’ll be able to produce to give an opinion. Or an explanation.

UPDATE

The board, includes three British nationals including the BBC’s Bangkok correspondent Jonathan Head, three American nationals, including two working for Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal, an Australian national and a Thai news reader for Channel 3, Karuna Buakamsri. [...]

A perfect move to attract several very large western media’s attention ! Well done miss Luksana

Social critic and lese majeste case defendant Sulak Sivaraksa, reacting to the news, told The Nation yesterday that “the problem of [abusing] lese majeste law is now utterly messy“.

“The fact that leading world intellectuals like Noam Chomsky and others have petitioned to [PM] Abhisit [Vejjajiva to reform the law] is a testimony to it. If we let it goes on like this it will get even messier. It’s time for the government to do something.”

A source within the FCCT, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he was “surprised” at the latest allegation, which came after two years of the speech being made, adding that “it places Thailand in a very poor light”.

Poor light ? A serious understatement. And of course it took 2 years to miss Laksana to make her move… She must be a rather slow translator…

But the best, truely fanatic style, is kept for the end :

In the comments’ section on ASTV Manager’s website, most posters expressed support for Laksana and praised her for the move.

One said: “Put them in jail for 99 years.”

Another asked the site to post a picture of Jonathan Head so the person could attack him if he or she ran into him. (Nation)

Welcome to Thailand.

Lese-Majeste campaign : woman arrested in Korat

The Lese-Majeste Campaign continues, unabated. The grinding machine doesn’t stop.

It would have been rational to think that after the riots, the authorities would want to “calm down” things a little bit, and would pause the campaign.

But on the contrary, there could be a stiffening.

On April 18, Matichon reported that police arrested Thossaporn Ruethaiprasertsung, 48, at a photocopying shop in Nakhon Ratchasima, and seized several leaflets whose contents reportedly were offensive to the monarchy and the Privy Council.

Thossaporn told the police that she worked for hire. Each morning, she would walk from home to get a bus to a market. While waiting for the bus this morning, she found a stack of leaflets. She picked up some to read, and found they were about the monarchy. She brought them to the market and wanted to share with friends, so she went to the shop just to make copies, with no other intent.

The police charged her under Article 112 of Criminal Code on lèse majesté, which carries a penalty of 3-15 years in prison, and sent an investigation team to find the source of the leaflets. (Matichon, via Prachatai).

This case is interesting because it puts (apparently) the Privy Council on the front. But the lese-majeste law doesn’t cover the Privy Council.

Article 112 states : “Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen or the Heir-apparent, shall be punished with imprisonment of three to 15 years.”

But… the conservators tried, are trying and will continue to try to extend the law… And it’s not new. Here is the proof :

“A group of 64 members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is seeking to extend protections against criticism for members of the royal family and Privy Council members as well as representatives appointed by the monarchy. The group, led by Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, an NLA member and Supreme Court chief judge, plans to propose amendments to the Criminal Code in which Their Majesties’ children, privy councillors and representatives appointed by the monarchy will be protected from defamation, insults or threats. (Bangkok Post, and ThaiCrisis)

Yes it was in october 2007… And you’ll note that the guy who launched this initiative… was chief judge at the Supreme Court !

Scary, huh… ?

Anyway. As for this poor woman… well I think it’s pointless to think that Abhisit could do something and could stop the current insanity. He’s too busy trying to save his arse… It seems that a lot of sharks are swimming around… the spectacular attack against Sonthi is the best proof…

Abhisit will certainly not take the risk to go against the conservators, right now… So this woman is likely to rot in jail for a long time…

Lese-majeste madness : 10 years of prison for a picture…

The Criminal Court Friday sentenced a man to ten year imprisonment for posting a picture deemed insulting the monarchy on a website.

Initially, Suwicha Thakho was sentenced to be jailed for 20 years but the court commuted the jail term by half after he pleaded guilty.

He was charged with violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code and violating the computer crime act.

The man wept upon learning of his sentence. (Nation)

Change with Abhisit ? Yes we can’t. He lied during his speech at Oxford, saying that most cases would be solved… and that everything was cool and normal, and that Giles was a coward because he left the country, blablabla.

How Abhisit can parade like a fish into the sea at the G20 in London, among Obama and all those powerful and civilized men, and meanwhile let this happen… 10 years of prison for a picture insulting the King ?

Sorry : 20 years of prison for a picture insulting the King ? !

This is the result of this insane lese-majeste law mixed with the insane Computer Crime Law (designed by the Junta in 2007, and then endorsed by Samak, Somchai and Abhisit governments) used by insane politicians for their own insane profit…

This is the reality of Thailand. Not 300 years ago.

But today. Now. In 2009.

It’s a shame. And it’s damaging a lot the image of the monarchy.

Lese-majeste : the useful (foreign) idiot is back !

I think we have an interesting case for mental institutions here…

Akhbar Khan is back. Who is this man ? This british citizen helped the thai police officer who filled lese-majeste complaints (3 times !) against the BBC Journalist J.Head plus another complaint against Jakrapob (thai politician, friend of Thaksin).

Lenine knew very well how to qualify those people : useful idiots.

Mister Khan is back. But this time alone.

BP has a very funny story, a translation from the thai newspaper The Manager.

Mr Khan a 43 year-old Englishman and a freelance journalist disclosed to ASTV on March 13 that yesterday (March 12) he sought assistance from the Consumer Protection Board for 3 million Baht compensation as the FCCT won’t sell him the DVD of UDD’s attendance at the FCCT on December 9, 2008 which might have been in breach of lese majeste laws. In addition, he was dismissed as a member as the FCCT was concerned he would file a lese majeste complaint against Veera and he seeks justice.

The obsession is confirmed : this man sees lese-majeste everywhere. A simple commercial problem ? Lese-majeste for sure. A dish served too cold in a restaurant ? Lese-majeste (waitresses, beware).

But wait… here comes the best part, the morceau de choix, the gran finale (I feel really european tonight) :

He said he didn’t do this for fame, but to the protect the institution. Some in Thailand have referred to the institution and he couldn’t tolerate this as in England they have great respect for the monarchy. “I am surprised that in Thailand there are people who commit lese majeste. If someone did that in the UK they would be arrested and thrown in a mental asylum for sure,” said Mr. Khan.

Huge, isn’t it ?

And from a psychoanalytic point of view, I think it’s very interesting to hear Mister Khan speaking about… “mental asylum “… Very interesting indeed.

Hey Khan, I’ve got a news for you : you are famous now.

But probably not for the right reasons.

On a much more serious tone now : the thai authorities have to understand that if they continue to let those lunatics (Khan and his thai accomplice) making fool of themselves while toying with the monarchy, the monarchy will be undermined.

Abhisit should understand this crucial point : don’t let such people use the lese-majeste law for their own insane crusade, to mask or find derivatives to their own private problems and obsessions.

The more this kind of people are allowed to continue their crusade… the more the monarchy will be dragged into the public debate, and will be degraded.

Stop Khan. And stop Police Lieutenant-Colonel Watanasak.

Now.

NeoAbhisit in the Matrix : “there is no spoon” but “democracy is alive”

Abhisit made a speech on democracy at St John’s College (Oxford University). It was followed by a Q&A session.

A few comments.

DEMOCRACY

“I can’t tell how fast the Thai democracy will progress. Looking back at the Western experiences, you’ll find that it took centuries,” Abhisit said.

“Most importantly, democracy in Thailand will no longer go backward. Thai people are now at the crossroads. Be assured that the people have taken the right path and will go ahead despite some obstacles,” he said. (Nation)

What the hell does it mean ? Cheap rethoric, empty words used like russian dolls. Different interpretations possible. A classic of cheap politicians.

-in the West, it took centuries. So we have to understand that in Thailand it will take centuries too ?
-The thai democracy will no longer be moving backward… what allows Abhisit to think this ? And what about moving… forward ?
-crossroads between what ?
-people took the right path. How ? And toward which direction ? A path leads to somewhere.
-”ahead” this is the direction according to Abhisit, but there are “some obstacles”. Which ones ?

LESE-MAJESTE

The premier responded that the law could be compared to a defamation law for ordinary people, due to the fact that the monarchy had no legal channel to defend itself against defamation.

He pointed out that there were similar laws in European countries.

Here, I would be cautious, because those are Nation’s words (I’m waiting for the verbatim)… In any case, Abhisit uses the old argument : this law is necessary because the monarchy has no legal mean to defend itself against defamation. And he gives us the same idiotic story : in Europe too you have this kind of law !

He’s like a child : “mumy, I did something wrong, but I’m not alone, other people did it too “. Again, cheap childish rethoric.

Abhisit should tell us (because he knows apparently Europe so well ) : do we send people to jail for lese-majeste, like Thailand is currently doing ? Do we ?

It’s a pity that no one asked him a very simple question : thanks to the lese-majeste law, a thai police officer was able to fill a complaint, on 3 different occasions, against a BBC journalist (J.Head).

Is it normal ? Is it media harassment ? Personal vendetta ? Is it plain stupidity from one lunatic official ? What Abhisit is thinking about it ?

And the same police officer filled a lese-majeste complaint against… Jakrapob (thai politician, friend of Thaksin).

Is there a link ? Is it a mere coincidence ? If not what is it then ? Still personal vendetta ? Or harassment of a politician ?

You know what I mean : facts. No bullshit, no grandiloquent words, no empty concepts : plain and burning facts (read here, and there).

What Abhisit is thinking about this ? Where are the democracy, the rule of law, the “right path” bla bla bla in those facts ?

Abhisit, don’t forget : there is no spoon. You are part of the Matrix. You live in the Potemkin Village.

You’re fooling only yourself.

Computer Crime Act at work : one webmaster arrested… lese-majeste and politics again

Et voila ! The Junta designed the Computer Crime Act… and now our dear “democrat” Prime Minister, the dashing Abhisit (you know “Ofxord educated” blablabla), seems very happy to uses it.

When the lese-majeste hysteria meets an insane law designed by military… For that matter Abhisit does a synthesis.

A scary one.

The CC Act was not often used (two cases in 2007 it seems, followed by one in 2008).

(To know more about the CC Act, read my article of july 2007, and the translation here).

Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police yesterday raided the office of Prachatai’s political website and took its webmaster into custody accusing her of violating the Computer Act.

About 10 CSD officers led by Pol Col Satit Tachayapop, deputy CSD commander, went to the (prachatai.com) office yesterday. Armed with a search warrant dated March 5, 2008, they searched the office and detained Cheeranuch Premchaiphorn, the webmaster.

The CSD team accused her of violating Article 15 of the Computer Act as well as disseminating lese majeste content on the website from Oct 15 to Nov 3 last year.

The police interrogated her for hours and copied all files from her personal computer. Chantana Banpasirichote, a political lecturer from Chulalongkorn University, yesterday used her position to guarantee Ms Cheeranuch’s bail.

Chuwat Lertkitisuk, the website editor, said the police raid could have been prompted by certain messages posted on the site’s web board.

A lot of messages have been posted, and the webmasters might not be quick enough to delete alleged lese majeste messages from the web board, he said.

CSD officers also seized PCs and relevant documents as evidence, he said.

“This is obviously media intimidation and the latest case of using lese majeste as a tool to curb freedom of expression,” said Mr Chuwat. (Bangkok Post)

It might be important to remember that this website was created by a former senator… who is the brother of Giles… the academic charged with… lese-majeste and who fled to UK.

Nothing happens by chance… We have here a deliberate campaign… A campaign of intimidation and repression. Abhisit might not have ordered it… but he supports it for sure.

Furthermore, he’s an hypocrite and a liar.

Abhisit said those in charge of the web board had a duty to make sure no lese-majeste comments were posted.

“I am willing to listen if they have any doubts,” the premier said.

Asked by the media why those prosecuted seemed to be media critical of the government, Abhisit said he would look into the matter. “They can always file a complaint,” he said. (Nation)

Harry Nicolaides, lese-majeste : free at last

In jail since beginning of september for lese-majeste… Harry Nicolaides has been given “royal pardon” friday. He left for Australia.

Free at last.

Let’s hope that it will be the last case involving a foreigner sent to jail. Thailand can’t afford such bad international publicity.

Meanwhile, unfortunately, the lese-majeste law will probably continue to make victims… in Thailand.

(Nation, Bangkok Pundit)

Nicolaides said he would write another book detailing his ordeal. “I’m angry and frustrated and perplexed at my treatment,” he said. “I’m tired and exhausted and I’ve got a mother to go and see who’s lost the power of speech.” (The Age)

The Age has also a video of  Nicolaides arrival.

“Thank you for your effort. Australian media have been dauntess and courageous. I really appreciate your efforts. We enjoy rare privileges in this country.

[... about a new book] The truth is stranger than fiction”.

“Floors are covered with fish bones, saliva and cat vomit, so my feet are black”

New Mandala spoke about it this week end. But I think all Thailand related blogs should publish it.

Here is a letter written by Harry Nicolaides, the australian convicted of lese-majeste (3 years jail).

The letter was published by the Sydney Morning Herald.

The medieval price an author pays for insulting Thailand’s monarchy

From the hell of his Bangkok prison cell, the writer Harry Nicolaides reveals the horror of his daily battle to survive.

We are woken at 6 and counted in the cell. Mine is 12 metres long and just over four metres wide, holding 50 or 60 prisoners, mostly Thais, mostly murderers and rapists. The cell has one toilet, which is a hole in the ground, and poor ventilation. I sleep in a face mask because tuberculosis and pneumonia are common. I’ve been in this jail for five months, since my arrest in September.

My book, Verisimilitude, was a rather clumsy first attempt at fiction – only 50 copies were printed and seven sold. I love Thailand and respect the royal family. It was never my intention to offend anyone.

For breakfast I have soy milk and a biscuit. The prisoners wash and shave around troughs covered in grime. The water is changed once a week. Then there’s assembly. We stand to attention as the Thai flag is raised. We’re asked to pray to a large gold Buddha. I use the time to collect my thoughts and think about my loved ones.

The guards make long speeches in Thai. I imagine they’re about prison etiquette. I’m then taken upstairs with other foreigners to clean another cell block. After that we’re at leisure for a while. I used to walk around, but I can’t help but encounter the weak and the feeble – such as men with TB, languishing on benches. It deadens me. So I try to spend my time replying to the many letters I receive. Letters keep me alive.

Alleged IT Minister speaks about lese-majeste, national security, Al Qaeda, holistic way, and 3G (the phone not the G string)

Thank you ! Thank you Bangkok Post for the hilarious (and scary…) interview of Ranongruk, the alleged IT Minister.

My readers are probably aware. They know this woman…

She’s one of the Frankenstein Ministers… She started her career as a nurse… Then she became… are you ready ?… Deputy Finance Minister in Samak’s government in march 2008.

She thought that the VAT was paid only by tourists… and she went on Google to learn about her new job. I’m not joking (proof here).

Abhisit made her IT Minister… I’m wondering who is the most ridiculous for that matter. Anyway. We knew that she would be a real winner.

She started quickly, end of december, with a striking agenda : lese-majeste everywhere, even in her tea.

And now this interview with Bangkok Post. It’s a master piece, nothing less.

I’m copying the whole article, for the legacy. So historians can have a good laugh in a few years.

Lese-majeste : more hysteria and now they want to “educate the foreigners”

The hysteria around the lese-majeste law continues at an unabated pace.

The Senate has resolved to set up an extraordinary committee to strictly enforce laws to better protect the monarchy following an increasing number of websites found to be offensive to the royal institution.

The Senate yesterday voted 90 to 17 to set up an extraordinary panel to follow up on the enforcement of laws and articles relating to the protection of the monarchy as proposed by appointed senator Khamnoon Sitthisamarn.

Wait a minute ? 17 have voted against ? That’s lese-majeste ! In a good banana african country like Thailand, an appropriate result should be 100 %. Nothing less. Goddamnit, what are they learning at school ?

The committee, to be headed by national police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan, will comprise 30 members – 19 senators and 11 outsiders.

Currently, there are over 10,000 websites deemed offensive to the monarchy. The Information and Communication (ICT) Ministry has been able to block only 2,000 sites.

Now it’s 10000. Before it was 400 or 1200.And then 2000. Why not 5 millions ? They are so stupid they couldn’t even count buffaloes in a rice field.

The Justice Ministry will coordinate with the Foreign Ministry to launch a campaign among foreigners to educate them about lese majeste laws.

Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga said he would coordinate with the Foreign Ministry to instruct all Thai embassies abroad to launch public relations campaigns about lese majeste laws which impose harsh punishments on those who insult the Thai monarchy. (Bangkok Post)

It’s good to laugh. Can you see the intellectual level of those people ? It’s scary.

Do you imagine …. PR campaigns organized in UK, France, USA, Germany… to explain, calmly, that anybody risks 15 years in jail if he dares to criticize one man… ?

The Peter Principle (the whole thai establishment is totally dumb) mixed to the Streisand Effect could be the grave of this law if they continue.

They don’t understand that the more they use like a toy and talk about the lese-majeste law, the more substance they are taking out of it.

They are endangering the monarchy, as an institution, and the King as a person.

Because of them, one day, Rama IX could be remembered as “The King Who Needed A Law To Be Respected”.

At last, Australia asks Thailand to pardon Nicolaides jailed for lese-majeste

Multiplication of inane lese-majeste cases, an australian who rots in jail since august (for a book he wrote… and 7 copies were sold), the revolting boat people scandal… that’s a little bit too much for Abhisit’s shoulders and for his government.

The image of Thailand is literally sinking.

So let’s hope that they will do the right thing, and send back Nicolaides to Australia.

This insanity has to stop.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith made the request in a letter to his Thai counterpart after Harry Nicolaides, 41, pleaded guilty this week to defaming the head of state, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and his son.

“Now that the legal processes before Thailand’s courts have concluded, Australian officials have advised Thai officials that the Australian government strongly supports Mr. Nicolaides’s pardon application,” Smith said in a statement. (Bloomberg)