The Thai Pirate - Thai Blog and Travel Stories

....on Lese Majeste

For those who are unfamiliar with Lese Majeste, it is a law in Thailand that can get you sent to jail for a very long time if you were to insult the King of Thailand.

There are discussions continuously taking place on sites like New Mandela, which encourage open debate not only about the LM law, but for many other issues in Thailand.

Since arriving in Thailand, I have been made very aware of the Thai's extreme sensitivity with regards their King, and so have always been careful about voicing opinions about him. I have never had a problem with this, as it soon becomes apparent anyway that the vast majority of Thai's hold the King very dear to their hearts. Every home or business house a large picture of him and / or other members of the Royal family (example above), traffic stops and people gather if members of the Royal Family are to drive through the town that day / or down a particular road. If a member of the Royal Family visits your home or business (and this does happen, more often than you would believe...) the owners often seal a room after the visit, to preserve the presence of the visiting Royal.

It's well known. The Thai's love their King, and the Royal Family. The main problem with the Lese Majeste law is that it is believed to be a tool wielded by the political and urban 'elite' of Bangkok to keep dissenters and political opponents down.

No doubt the law has been abused in the past, but unfortunately you see this with other laws in Thailand, and there are lots of dark tales of innocent people being jailed over nothing. I have no doubt there is truth there, but, this is part of a wider problem of corruption within the authority institutions of Thailand.

So, why do so many foreigners and 'academics' call for the law to be dissolved on sites like New Mandela? Surely the decision on whether the law stays or not is firmly in the hands of the Thais. I asked Sutiya, 'if I went out into the street and insulted the King in some grand way, and got jailed for three years, what would you think about LM?' She told me flat that it would serve me right.....And there it is.

You find this with the vast majority of Thai's you talk to. They won't tolerate people insulting the King, whether they are PAD, UDD, UBC or anyone else, and then you have the liberal elite the other side, with tales of injustice and corruption, demanding the law is demolished.

I don't personally see why it should be reformed. Why shouldn't the Thai's protect their King and the Royal Family? Why shouldn't they throw foreign idiots in jail, who come along and try to erode the rules because they are after making a quick buck?

And what of the consequences should it be abolished? Do I want to see Thai stand-up comedians, talking about sleeping with members of the Royal Family? Do I want the press to be able to write nonsense and lies just to sell a few papers?

Not especially.

If the law is abolished, once it's gone, it's gone, and that means a little part of Thailand has gone with it. Plus, I often think those who want it removed are simply anti-Monarchy. Why these people prefer to put power directly into the hands of politicians God only knows? Especially in a country like Thailand.

I acknowledge that there are problems associated with LM and that these can be troubling, but, I believe strongly that the choice is for the Thai's. I don't have a problem with Thailand wanting to protect their King, their Royal Family, their land, their country.

NEWS FLASH. PAD ignored. Again.

Today it was reported in Bangkok that senior protesters gathered together in a rally that was ignored.

(Left, Silyum Watsitonwat - Bored)

The PAD have now successfully been ignored for over 4 months, making them the world's most ignored organisation ever.

PAD leader and spokesman, Silyum Watsitonwat, was quoted as saying 'Today my organisation have been ignored again, and for over four months now. Last week we were ignored all over Bangkok, and the country. We have tried so hard, but still we can't help it, everyone ignores us'.

He contined 'There is some serious ignoring going on in Thailand today. We have stayed in the government offices in Bangkok for months now, but why? Only to be ignored. I'm not so sure if I can take anymore ignoring. When will it all end?

The PAD have continuously tried to not be ignored, but have had little success. Areas of the capital have seen them gather in large numbers only to be forgotten as people get on with their lives.

Parts of Thailand have associated the PAD with 'the Bangkok elite' and business leaders, but for an organisation to be ignored for this long, it is hard to fathom that anybody really cares at all.

"Its hard to take, all this ignoring. All we want is someone to take us seriously', said Watsitonwat.

Senior Army Man, Gen. Whodunya Watchit, was quoted as saying 'Yes we have ignored them, they are very ignorable. I suggest everyone carry on ignoring them, who knows? Maybe they will go home?'

The PAD last week took over major airports in Thailand, in a final bid to not be ignored, however, the country still couldn't help it.

Watsitonwat concluded 'You should try to be ignored as long as we have, it's not easy.'

How much is your democracy?

Everyday I read a report stating that the PAD is an organisation against democracy.

This makes all Westerners gasp loudly in horror. Against DEMOCRACY! How dare they!

To be against democracy is the modern day equivalent of denying god in the 13th century.

Thailand does have a democracy, but there is one major fly in the curry. The Thai democratic system is rife with ‘vote buying’.

Vote buying, or ‘vote fraud’ as it’s known in most other working democracies, is illegal in Thailand, but is still widely practiced. The public perception of it is that it is not viewed as so morally wrong, especially in the poorer areas of Thailand.

"But that’s disgraceful", I hear you cry! "A democratic system should be brilliant white, shiny, and clean, you can’t have any dirty vote buying spoiling the view!". But it's not that straight forward.

It is already illegal; a law was just passed in October 2007 to try to clamp down on it (making it punishable for the first time to receive money for votes. Previously, only those who paid money could be prosecuted).

One of the problems in stamping out vote buying is you need a person willing to risk their neck (i.e. a snitch), and that isn’t gonna happen 9 times out of 10. Why? Because the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.

Firstly, political murders are not that uncommon in Thailand, and secondly, vote buying could be the answer to many of your problems, depending on your circumstances, and where you live.

To understand, you need to look at how the Thai people live in the remotest parts of Thailand.

Local and national politics there remain driven by feudal social structures. Parties and their accompanying ideologies are of little importance, in contrast to our own system.

The things that motivate rural Thai’s are religion, family ties, group allegiances, and the respect and support of those that can supply financial investment and security (i.e. money).

Say you are a normal Thai person living in a normal village somewhere in the North of Thailand. You don’t have much money, or influence, but you belong to the village group.

A political canvessor turns up a few months before elections, and offers to build new roads, new schools, and pay for bus fares for a year.

This is obviously going to have an immediate impact on you, and your neighbour’s lives.

If the head of the village decides to accept such a gift, then that’s pretty much it. The whole village will normally go along with it, so Yippee, new roads!

Such promises and gifts in Thai society are binding; a cash payment or gift has an extra value beyond the supposed value. Such a gift will be given in exchange for the complete loyalty of the village.

As a member of the village, it is very difficult for you to object or not participate, you may be risking more than just your pride; you could ostracise yourself, and your family from those around you. So why bother? After all, you’re getting new roads!

Acting alone as a rural Thai is not big and it’s not clever, especially if your superiors are telling you to all pull together. You therefore have a situation where large numbers of votes are being decided by very few.

The way vote buying has influenced the system is the main reason why the PAD say stupid stuff like; ‘those in the remotest parts of Thailand are uneducated’. They don’t mean that they are stupid, they mean the system that is being imposed is primitive.

And remember, vote buying is still illegal.

Its existence within a democratic system cheapens the system; changing the playing field drastically. It opens the doors to the rich, and ignores those that want to create real change.

Is it any coincidence that Thaksin’s strongholds are in the poorest parts of Thailand?

Is it a bad thing? Well yes it is, if you are isolating yourself from all the professional people in the country. They can quite ably see that these elections are being bought.

I have no right to say whether vote buying is right or wrong, After all, if vote buying is improving the lives of many in the poorest parts of Thailand, then who am I to argue? These are issues for the Thai’s, and they will be dealt with by the Thai’s.

Just don’t be too hasty to pass judgement on the PAD when the Western media states they are against democracy, because, Thailand's democracy works differently to ours.

Thaksin upset at revoked VISA, slags off the UK, then talks sense (no, not really)

It's been a bad couple of months for Thaksin, and it finally looks as though he has lost it.

Mid November, he and Potjaman Shinawatra got a divorce. Don't feel too bad for him, as it isn't the strain of recent events that have led to this, rather, it is more likely to be a move to protect his assets, thus not genuine marital breakdown. The separation will afford him considerably more legal manoeuvrability.

Nothing is sacred these days, eh Thaksin!

There is also speculation the divorce could allow Potjaman the right to reapply for settlement in the UK.

Commenting on the revoked VISA, David Milliband, UK foreign minister, only referred to Thaksin's convictions when describing why his VISA had been revoked, leading many Thai journalists to speculate that the UK were leaving the door open for Potjaman (even though she was found guilty of tax evasion by the Thai courts and sentenced to 3 years).

So, after being dumped by the UK (and by the misses), Thaksin proceeded to slope off to Dubai, where he promptly began slagging off England!

Quote: "England must understand better, but unfortunately they are now busy with their own problems so they forgot about democratic values" said Thaksin in an interview with an Arabian Business magazine.

Interesting. "They are now busy with their own problems". Who? British politicians?

Maybe Thaksin is actually surprised that British government ministers are unable to collude with (and do favours for) a political criminal?

Or, at least, British politicians at this time daren't be seen to associate with him, especially with all the trouble that's going on with the world markets.

Thaksin also went on to say (with regard returning to Thailand) "With me at the helm, I can bring confidence quickly back to Thailand".

And that's the most sensible thing he's ever said, if he means at the helm of the Bang Kwang prison kitchen, cooking slop for the other inmates.

Because, in my humble opinion, the only solution to all this mess is for Thaksin to come back and serve time for the various crimes he committed whilst in power!

Then, and only then, can he attempt to rebuild a political career.

Send him back

Two years jail is a fair sentence I reckon, if anything, it's too lenient.

Entertain this scenario.

Gordon Brown and his wife are accused of corruption, and of using their political status for personal gain. It is suspected that she has committed tax fraud (to the tune of a modest 8.2m), whilst he is accused of 1. arranging soft loans to Burma to benefit his family's telecoms business and 2. buying up large areas of London at a third of the normal price.

Browns wife's tax case is heard first. She is found guilty in a British court, with the judge stating "The defendant (Browns wife) was not only supposed to behave herself as a good citizen, she was also meant to be a good role model as the wife of the prime minister." Fair enough.

She is freed on bail pending an appeal. Both Brown and his wife go public and say they will 'definitely' be attending Brown's trial (a week later), as they are innocent and have nothing to fear blah blah etc etc.

Brown and his wife then fly to China, so they can see the start of the 'Olympics', how nice. However, Brown and his wife don't return to the UK. Shock horror! No. Instead, they decide it would be a very good idea indeed to ignore their legal obligations, skip bail, and catch a connecting flight to Thailand! Where they cannot be extradited! Ha ha, good idea!

Brown then proceeds to cry about the UK court findings (which would have been OK, if only they found the mrs innocent), and pours scorn on the UK's legal system, and seeks 'asylum' in Thailand.

However, he nonetheless still see's himself fit to continue to dictate policy (!), party appointments (!) AND make political manoeuvres and decisions (!) for the governing party back in Blighty!

None of the labour politicians have the cohones to speak out against him, and CONTINUE to run the UK under Brown's RULE, and in his absence!!! You couldn't make it up!

Brown is later found guilty of purchasing land in London for 'mates rates' (a crime that isn't hard to prove) and is given a two year sentence (in his absence).

But he doesnt have much to worry about, because, Thailand houses people pretty much 'willy nilly' once they claim 'asylum'. So, Brown is free to continue to operate as he pleases, running the UK from abroad, whilst not answering himself to the legal obligations everybody else has to abide by (lets face it folks, 'beacon of the poor', or not, he was on the take.)

I want to be a politician when I grow up, they can do anything!

Can you see why so many Thai's are annoyed? I wonder how us Brits would react if our PM was guilty of corruption on many levels, but still calling the shots from a foreign country? There would probably be mass protests and scenes of violence on the streets I think.

All said and done, if I were Thaksin, I would consider coming back. He would probably do six months (not including other cases, yet to be heard), and arise a more experienced and formidable political player.....Something to think about eh, Mr Thaksin.