no freedom here

[realthog]

Here's the kind of story you expect to find associated with tyrannical hellholes like Zimbabwe or North Korea, not supposedly benign Thailand:

Writer jailed for Thai 'insult'

Australian writer Harry Nicolaides has been sentenced to three years in a Thai jail for insulting the monarchy.

Nicolaides wrote a novel four years ago, which contained a brief passage referring to an unnamed crown prince. It sold just seven copies.

He admitted the charge of insulting the royal family, but said he was unaware he was committing an offence.

Criticism of those in authority is the lifeblood of democracy; closer to home, we've seen the cost of its lack as loyal Bushies for several years did their best to smother dissent by stigmatizing all critics as traitors, terrorists or worse, thereby stampeding us into two unnecessary and almost certainly unwinnable wars, possibly fatal delays in tackling global warming, vastly increased environmental pollution, a surge in the rates of not just poverty but gross poverty, a slew of war crimes, the abolition of habeas corpus, and the worst global economic crisis in at least generations. Thailand's draconian laws persecuting anyone who offers even the most tangential criticism of the royal family are an obscenity, making a mockery of all other claims -- and there are many -- that the country has to democracy. Shame on them.

Comments

[kylecassidy.livejournal.com]

what do you bet it's going to sell a lot more than seven copies now....

[realthog.livejournal.com]

That's a thought. I've just checked Amazon but there's no listing; I suspect the novel started life as this (http://www.amazon.com/Concierge-Confidential-Stories-Harry-Nicolaides/dp/1877029246/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232381888&sr=1-1), but that's as far as I can find.

I've also checked Lulu, just on the offchance he self-published through their service, but no such luck. I did, however, come across this appetizing blurb for a different author's book:

This Amazing Poetry Book was put by the authour's master piece after many years of work. This Book is the solely labor of his. Inside you should find all topics, encompasses all subjects we are facing today in America and as a society as a whole. Many believe Mr.Theodore Regis is a gifted writer,and an extraordinary Poet. They see him as a second Shakespeare who resurrected to breathe poetic words at a greater skills. This book is a work of an artist, it may be bitter, soft, fun, sweet, enjoyable, sad, hopeful, but it is a work of a Poet. Transcendental Simulacrum is written to portray to the world pains,sorrows,and agonies facing all earth's citizens in the early twenty-first century.Its mission is to heal and cure the world malady.

Sounds like a must-buy to me!

[kylecassidy.livejournal.com]

I found it when I first read your post and I googled around a bit -- it's called ... dang it escapes me for the moment, it begins with a "V" like "Vituperation" or something like that. But he's taken it down from his self-publisher website, one of the things he did to try and get out of jail. hopefully some publisher in the states will pick it up. sad thing is, i'm sure it's awful.

Concierge Confidential was his first book, which was a self-published collection of his adventures working in a hotel.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

The title's Verisimilitude.

[teacher-bear.livejournal.com]

Well, it's not that long ago they had all the bowing and kowtowing etc. Doesn't take much to bring a return to those practices and narrow minded bigotry.

I agree with what you wrote about the 'bushies'. Coming from a land where it is fair game and expected to criticise the royals and political leaders, I don't understand the paranoia here. Mind you, seems like another form of McCarthyism to me. The old 'reds under the beds' card was raised more than once during the election campaign. Obviously a president slightly to the left of liberal will be hell bent on seeing this nation become communist. (I write in jest, just in case anyone misses my sarcasm here!)

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Obviously a president slightly to the left of liberal"

That's right -- he was accused of being "by far the most liberal senator of all" despite the fact that this is demonstrably a lie. (And, anyway, alongside Obama someone like David Cameron looks like a rabid leftie.) 'Course, I reckon the lie probably gained Obama a few extra votes from people who might otherwise have voted for a genuinely leftist candidate . . .

"Coming from a land where it is fair game and expected to criticise the royals and political leaders, I don't understand the paranoia here."

I find it astonishing, and very disturbing. Most worrying of all is that there are now some who feel it's their duty to stifle any criticism of Obama -- despite the fact that, by all indications, such stifling of dissent is absolute anathema to Obama himself.

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

This is outrageous. Thailand relies on tourism money a great deal, and boycotting the country's claim to being a vacation spot might put a dent in their arrogant armor. We should blog our heads off over this travesty.

Thanks for posting the article, Paul.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"We should blog our heads off over this travesty."

That was my thinking, S.T.!

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

I'll get to my blog later this day, and maybe we at LJ can spread the word, get it out to other venues. Boycott Thailand's tourism business, and let Thailand know why! As soon as I get some business taken care of I'm going to see how we might draft and post a protest to be sent to the Thailand monarchy, and perhaps to Thai newspapers. Or maybe you and Pam already know how: I'll wager you do. Writers need to close rank around this poor fellow convicted and sentenced to jail for writing something that insulted a narcissist. (Oh, don't get me started!)

Amnesty International needs to get on this problem, pronto. Disgusting.

[kylecassidy.livejournal.com]

Funny thing is this guy insulted the monarchy to an audience which seems to be comprised almost entirely of the author himself, and the monarchy's just insulted themselves in front of the whole world. Maybe the prince will have to put himself in jail....

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

I wonder if the Australian Govt is kicking up a stink behind the scenes? I'd be surprised if they merely let one of their nationals hang out to dry like this.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"draft and post a protest to be sent to the Thailand monarchy, and perhaps to Thai newspapers"

My guess is that such efforts would go entirely ignored. Far better, in my opinion, to blog about it and encourage others to do so; it's easy enough for folk like these to dismiss written missives, but a lot less so if the #1 story that turns up on their Google searches for "Thailand" is this one.

Boycotting Thai goods and making audible your reasons for so doing might also be cumulatively effective.

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Well said. This is one of the reasons why you're a published writer, with awards.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Amnesty International needs to get on this problem, pronto."

Couldn't agree more.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

'J'ai un souhait, et c'est le dernier et le plus grand de mes souhaits: je souhait que le dernier des rois fut étranglé avec les boyaux des dernier des prêtres' -- Jean Meslier.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Coo. I din't know you spoke Freedom!

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Seulement un peu.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Seulement un peu."

Oh, you learned it in Korea?

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Pas encore(a).