Thread: Australian Stuck in Thai Jail

Originally Posted by bor

I wonder how his new year and Christmas were.

Party hats, crackers, turkey till yer fit to burst followed by port and the cheese board?

Yes, not to mention a few games of "backgammon" with the prison fairies!!!

Originally Posted by bor

I wonder how his new year and Christmas were.

You write about as well as you know what date it is . . .

^

Originally Posted by puppy

Yes, not to mention a few games of "backgammon" with the prison fairies!!!

must have been playing a back game!

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Originally Posted by bkkandrew

The book was not even published in Thailand. What right do the Thais have of scouring the world hunting evidence of lese majeste?

An outstandingly excellent point that bothered me some what. So I went and checked (wonderful thing, google). And what I came up with was:

The arrest warrant alleged Nicolaides had insulted the Thai royal family in his second book, Verisimilitude, a novel Nicolaides self-published in Thailand in 2005.

www.theage.com.au - The trouble with Harry

(admittedly, so far I have not been able to corroborate the publisher)

Well, I believe this to be inaccurate and, contrary to the earlier reports on this thread, the previous thread turned up no evidence whatsoever that the book was published outside of Australia and in any other language than English.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

however, perhaps more interestingly:
Yet when he published Verisimilitude three years ago, Nicolaides took the precaution of sending his book to the National Library, the Thai Ministry of Culture, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of the Royal Household to check that its contents were acceptable

The trouble with Harry | theage.com.au

which is a bit difficult to reconsile with the "scouring the world to hunt for evidence".

Agreed, but they cannot have it both ways, he either gained tacit approval by request, or they took offence at an overseas publication.

[quote=EmperorTud;868749]

Originally Posted by panama hat

..........antics of the heavy-handed, authoritarian Australian Immigration and Customs. Border Patrol.......

You've gotta be joking right..... why? you had something conviscated or a visa app rejected..? I've had numerous dealings professionally and find them far from it. Wanna Try Vietnam - for Authoritiarian!

^I was referring to the TV program 'Border Patrol'. Which does an excellent job of proving me totally correct.

Hint: try to learn how to use the quote function properly before making a twat of yourself in future.

Originally Posted by mancon

Well said, I could not agree more. We have to remember that we are all guests in Thailand even if we bring in a lot of money to the country!

stoopid fuckn comment. stickmanesque it is. i aint a guest.

Originally Posted by Repubblicano

should remember nowhere else in the world guests get jailed for three lines written in a book.

erm, try denying the holocaust in germany.

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

Hint: try to learn how to use the quote function properly before making a twat of yourself in future.

whereas you just manage it all the time.

Nobody has claimed to have a copy of the book and it has been suggested in some quarters that no book was ever written and the press release was just to publicise his name.

I have no idea what the truth is.

^ You're not making a lot of sense

Originally Posted by kingwilly

erm, try denying the holocaust in germany.

This from the person who thought Germany was gassing Jews in the 1930's.

Originally Posted by kingwilly

whereas you just manage it all the time.

That's right, I have no problems using the quote function.

Originally Posted by yatesy2

and then to stereotype all on the basis of a TV show in my opinion is ignorant

I wasn't only using the TV program to form my opinion. I am a frequent visitor to the dustbowl.

Originally Posted by bor

Nobody has claimed to have a copy of the book and it has been suggested in some quarters that no book was ever written and the press release was just to publicise his name.

I have no idea what the truth is.

bor's a boring boar.

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

Originally Posted by kingwilly

erm, try denying the holocaust in germany.

This from the person who thought Germany was gassing Jews in the 1930's.

Originally Posted by kingwilly

whereas you just manage it all the time.

That's right, I have no problems using the quote function.

Originally Posted by yatesy2

and then to stereotype all on the basis of a TV show in my opinion is ignorant

I wasn't only using the TV program to form my opinion. I am a frequent visitor to the dustbowl.

And hence my original question.. Why? whats the treatment you recieved that formualted the Authoritarian Label??

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Originally Posted by bkkandrew

The book was not even published in Thailand. What right do the Thais have of scouring the world hunting evidence of lese majeste?

An outstandingly excellent point that bothered me some what. So I went and checked (wonderful thing, google). And what I came up with was:

The arrest warrant alleged Nicolaides had insulted the Thai royal family in his second book, Verisimilitude, a novel Nicolaides self-published in Thailand in 2005.

www.theage.com.au - The trouble with Harry

(admittedly, so far I have not been able to corroborate the publisher)



however, perhaps more interestingly:
Yet when he published Verisimilitude three years ago, Nicolaides took the precaution of sending his book to the National Library, the Thai Ministry of Culture, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of the Royal Household to check that its contents were acceptable

The trouble with Harry | theage.com.au

which is a bit difficult to reconsile with the "scouring the world to hunt for evidence".

I'm struggling with this concept a bit, whilst I agree when in Rome do as the Romans do, and you know the law and understand the consequeces if you step out side of it, whichever country this may be. Also value the right of freedom of speech, and in context as mentioned through this thread, the guy (alledgedly)published 50 and only sold 7, hardly mass media. Let the punishment fit the crime I say, still a harsh sentence for criticising someone, or revealing the truth? if it is? And if the books so hard to get hold of, and claims no one get get copy of book are true then the implication is perhaps they may have enabled the warrant of the original manuscript sent to fore mentioned Thai offices?? In which case that concept sucks.. Still stupid thing to do, and agree if he's lived here for that period of time - he'd know for sure!

then another point... and from what I read here its also an offence to reproduce what is written?? So, I'm in US,OZ,UK where ever put something on my blog site which come to the attention of the authorities, holiday in Phuket and get holed up in Bangkok Jail under this law..??? Surely can't be right, is that whats implied given the book aledgedly was published outside of TL.

nb- yet to find the original text written by the bloke. links don't work

i am to old to cry real tears for the stupid.

fuk'em.

next case.

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

Originally Posted by yatesy2

Why? whats the treatment you recieved that formualted the Authoritarian Label??

It's just their behaviour and attitude in general.

As I have said the authoritarian manner that they go about their business is well documented on that TV program.

No different from the UK these days. I'd even stretch to say the UK is getting worse and is certainly a lot worse than your yardstick of Viet Nam, where I found the officials in the North to be arrogant wankers, in the South, although stiff, they were friendly enough.

Disagree but obviously have no understanding of you experences and interactions, and thats a very broad brush stroke 'general behaviour and attitude'. As initally stated have had numerous dealings professionaly and find their approach far from this, and far less so than the local constabulary, bear this in mind also most of those that the public come into dealing with are base level officers dealing with masses of people in short time, and the roles protrayed on show are but one function performed, and if you belive reflective of day-to-day activity you may as well put those James Bond novels in the Non-fiction section also. I've heard it can take up to 3 months of filming for one 30min show.

Perhaps maybe its a case of a world on heightend alert. I was ticked off by brother forgetting to check 1ltr of scotch into checked baggage which was subsequently conviscated in Phuket, and I don't see things that different here. Least your not greeted with automatic weapons at the gate!

Originally Posted by yatesy2

Surely can't be right, is that whats implied given the book aledgedly was published outside of TL.

don't know where you got that info...

all the links in the Aussie papers state that he self-published in Thailand...the economics of it make sense as I imagine publishing 50 copies of a book in Oz would be cost-prohibitive...

for links just google the authors name...

Originally Posted by klongmaster

all the links in the Aussie papers state that he self-published in Thailand...the economics of it make sense as I imagine publishing 50 copies of a book in Oz would be cost-prohibitive...

for links just google the authors name...

the implication was in an earlier post, can get alot of news reviews thru google, but not the text/review of book which appears to have been removed from akha.org , though it gets interesting here ;

Something fishy about lese majeste-Harry Nicolaides « FACT - Freedom Against Censorship Thailand

conflicting statments everywhere hard to see where the truth is perhaps the original review stands true;

"The truth is a casualty in a climate of political chicanery,...... Nothing is as it appears. Trust your instincts!”

pity the dumb shit had no instincts to trust.

waste neither time or tears on fools.

Originally Posted by yatesy2

Disagree but obviously have no understanding of you experences and interactions, and thats a very broad brush stroke 'general behaviour and attitude'.

My "experiences and interactions" have been nothing apart from the norm I'm afraid.

Originally Posted by yatesy2

As initally stated have had numerous dealings professionaly and find their approach far from this

I have been to Australia dozens of times and as a foreign national I stand by my description of Australian Customs and Immigration officials 100%.

Originally Posted by yatesy2

I was ticked off by brother forgetting to check 1ltr of scotch into checked baggage which was subsequently conviscated in Phuket

That was your mistake though.

Originally Posted by yatesy2

and the roles protrayed on show are but one function performed, and if you belive reflective of day-to-day activity you may as well put those James Bond novels in the Non-fiction section also

I think the shows are pretty accurate given my experience dealing with these people.

Are you yourself Australian? If you are, possibly your inability to take on board my critical description is the usual Aussie failure to admit fault, or perhaps it is because the very fact you are an Australian citizen you would have little idea how foreign nationals visiting your country are treated on arrival by your uniformed countrymen?

So, you are also an 'expert' on Australian customs and immigration officers' conduct?

Not that this comes as a surprise...

Lese majeste in Thailand reminds me of heresy and the Inquisition!