ALYSSA MONTALVO WRITES — It’s scarcely big news that the political culture of Thailand is heavily influenced by the monarchy. And because of this – and the alliance between the extensive Thai military and Crown, one of the world’s longest running monarchies – issues of basic human rights and equity…
Full Article THAILAND: THOSE ‘ANNOYING’ COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL PROTESTERS
SPECIAL TO AMI FROM PAVIN CHACHAVALPONGUN – The other day, it was to be a judgment day for former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Throughout the past few months, Thailand’s political temperature has been rising following the heated court case of Yingluck, who is accused of mismanaging Thailand’s rice subsidy program.…
Full Article THAILAND: COMMENTATOR PAVIN ON THAILAND ‘JUSTICE’ AND THE FLIGHT OF YINGLUCK
BANGKOK — The commander of the Thai Army has charged former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra with lese majeste for allegedly defaming the monarchy in a recent interview with a foreign news agency. Gen. Udomdet Sitabutr assigned an officer from the staff judge advocate corps to file the charge on his…
Full Article THAILAND: JUNTA STILL IN FEAR OF THAKSIN
ELIZABETH NA’AI WRITES – Thailand’s military junta is crafting an Orwellian state. Junta leader and self-imposed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha declared those who cross the lèse majesté line, or espouse anti-junta political dissent will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)…
Full Article THAILAND: Orwellian Dystopia at its Finest
ELIZABETH NAAI WRITES – The famed Land of Smiles could be mistaken for the Land of Scowls as the color-coded political strife continues. On November 3, junta leader and present Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha prescribed a Thaksin-detox for the media to remedy Thailand’s conflict. […]
Full Article THAILAND: History is ‘Rewritten’ by the Victors
ELIZABETH NAAI WRITES – Thailand looks eerily like a Twilight Zone episode or George Orwell’s 1984. On April 17, parents of 34-year old Chatwadee ‘Rose’ Amornpat accused their daughter of violating lèse majesté. They turned in seven clips as evidence to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD). Derived from the Latin…
Full Article THAILAND: The Nation’s Twilight ZoneELIZABETH NAAI WRITES – Thai politicians are considering an amendment to the Computer Crimes Act that would essentially isolate the country in cyberspace. Already in the tight grasp of bill’s current form and lèse majesté, the proposed amendment would erode what little rights the media has in the nation. Thailand ranks…
Full Article THAILAND: Press, a Watchdog of the People?(This is written by new staff writer Gabriella Castro — welcome aboard, Ms. Castro!) — It seems no person, or company, is free from the lèse-majesté laws of Thailand. Google recently released its transparency report for 2012, giving the public a look into what governments around the world are trying…
Full Article THAILAND: Critique Me Not
Previously ASIA MEDIA highlighted an article about Thailand’s lese majeste law and its oppressive reach over media systems such as social networking sites like Facebook or text messaging. Recently, Amphon “Akong” Tangnoppakul died while serving a 20-year sentence for allegedly sending text messages “deemed defamatory to the Queen.” He was…
Full Article THAILAND: Tragic TEXT-book Case of Repression — and Death