 |
Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha (AP Photo) |
BREAKING: Thai Army begin legal harassment of Thai historian
May 08, 2011
By Andrew Spooner
AsianCorrespondent.com
The latest wave of Thai repression is now continuing apace as it has been announced (see below) that well-known Thai academic, Dr. Somsak Jeamteerasakul, is being formally investigated under Thailand’s draconian “lese majeste” law. What is extraordinary about this investigation is that it was begun by the incredibly politicised Thai Army. Of course, it was only last year (and in 1973, 1976, 1992 and 2004) that the US-trained and equipped Thai Army were shooting unarmed Thai civilians on Bangkok’s streets (it was also only a month ago that the same army were firing cluster munitions into Cambodian villages). That they now feel that academics and historians should be imprisoned for expressing their views is hardly a portent of better things to come.
This “charging”of Somsak also comes during the week that Freedom House marked down Thailand’s press from “partly free” to “not free”, joining the likes of Burma, Syria and China in the global gallery of oppressive regimes. With dissolution of the Thai parliament very likely occurring this week and an election mooted for July 3rd, the beginning of a formal investigation into Somsak couldn’t have happened at better moment if you wanted to send a message that debate can by stymied and crushed. The generals have sent their clearest and starkest message yet – step out of line on the streets and you be shot & step out of line in the universities and you will be imprisoned.
It seems like darker days lay ahead for Thailand.
Dear colleagues and journalist friends, ,
According to the Thanapol Eawsakul, an editor from Fah Diew Gun magazine, Dr. Somsak Jeamteerasakul, a prominent historian from Thammasat University, is another victim of lese majeste law. The Thai army has officially filed a complaint against Dr. Somsak and he is due to hear the detail of the charge at Nang Lerg Police Station in Bangkok this coming Wednesday at 10am. [This is not a "charge" from Thailand's state prosecution but directly from the Thai Army that Somsak committed lese majeste. The appearance at the police station is to inform Somsak that the police believe there is enough evidence in the Army's claims for a formal investigation to commence. Official charges may materialise from this.]
This is the most recent case of attack on freedom of expression on Thai scholar and activist. Dr. Somsak was a student leader during the 1976 massacre and was incarcerated as a political prisoner for two years.
For background of the case, please check out: http://www.prachatai3.info/english/category/somsak-jeamtheerasakul (in English)
3 comments:
People of Thailand should get rid of this guy. It is not worth it to have this guy. He is not making a peace with neighbor Cambodia.
He is just an ugly old fart of Thai military.
He is not useful for Thailand
Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten
By Ms. Rattana Keo
Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 30,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 on the Thai border and what's about over 30,000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 30,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?
The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer every day.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 30,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?
Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?
Koh Tral was a Cambodian island, and technically and legally, remained a Cambodian island until today.
Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
I fully support the Thai historian but this general has problem his descent and he try to malipulate the human history. He must first to understand where the Thai came from?
- see: "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Empire"
- Thai came from south China during Mogoly Occupied China (1206-1294).
Post a Comment