realthog: (Default)
realthog ([personal profile] realthog) wrote2009-01-19 08:33 am

no freedom here


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.

[identity profile] sarcobatus.livejournal.com 2009-01-19 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] realthog.livejournal.com 2009-01-19 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)

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

That was my thinking, S.T.!

[identity profile] sarcobatus.livejournal.com 2009-01-19 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] kylecassidy.livejournal.com 2009-01-19 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
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....

[identity profile] sarcobatus.livejournal.com 2009-01-19 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Agreed.

[identity profile] realthog.livejournal.com 2009-01-19 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)

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.

[identity profile] realthog.livejournal.com 2009-01-19 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)

"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.

[identity profile] sarcobatus.livejournal.com 2009-01-19 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Well said. This is one of the reasons why you're a published writer, with awards.

[identity profile] realthog.livejournal.com 2009-01-19 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)

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

Couldn't agree more.