Stop the Use of "Lese Majeste" and Defend the Freedom of Speech in Thailand

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We, the undersigned, oppose the use of lese majeste in Thailand to prevent freedom of speech and academic freedom. We demand that the Thai government cease all proceedings in lese majeste cases and release all political prisoners held under these charges.

The 19 September 2006 military coup in Thailand claimed "royal legitimacy" in order to hide the authoritarian intentions of the military junta. Lese majeste charges have not been used as claimed to protect "Thai Democracy under a Constitutional Monarchy". Rather, the charges are used against people who criticised the coup and disagree with the present destruction of democracy. Lese majeste charges are used to censor dissent and create a climate of fear.

One prominent case is that of Associate Professor Giles Ji Ungpakorn, from the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University. He is facing lese majeste charges for writing a book "A Coup for the Rich", which criticised the 2006 military coup. (Read the book at http://wdpress.blog.co.uk/). Others who have been accused of lese majeste include former government minister Jakrapop Penkae, who was charged after asking a question at the Foreign Correspondent's Club in Bangkok about exactly what kind of Monarchy we have in Thailand. There is also the case of Chotisak Oonsung, a young student who failed to stand for the King's anthem in the cinema. Apart from these are the cases of pro-democracy activists Da Topedo and Boonyeun Prasertying. In addition to those who have opposed the coup, the BBC correspondent Jonathan Head, an Australian writer named Harry Nicolaides, and social critic Sulak Sivaraksa are also facing lese majeste charges. The latest person to be thrown into jail and refused bail is Suwicha Takor, who is charged with lese majeste for surfing the internet.

The Thai Minister of Justice has called for a blanket ban on reporting these cases in the Thai media. The mainstream Thai media are obliging. Thus, we are seeing a medieval style witch hunt taking place in Thailand with secret trials in the courts. The Ministry of Justice is also refusing to publish information regarding lese majeste cases.

For the defence of freedom and democracy, we call for the abolition of lese majeste laws and the protection of free speech in Thailand.

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  • Jia Ching Chen
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  • Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT)
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