Thread: Giles off to the UK

And the free speech advocates keep leaving the loving kingdom . . . .

Professor flees anti-monarchy jail threat

• Duncan Campbell in London
• February 10, 2009

A PROFESSOR who has joint British and Thai nationality fled Thailand at the weekend in the face of a lengthy sentence under the country's lese-majeste laws, which forbid criticism of the king.
He is the latest person to face prosecution under the laws, seen as an attempt by the Government to stifle dissent.
Giles Ji Ungpakorn, 54, arrived in England at the weekend after being charged under the laws. He had been due to present himself to police in Bangkok yesterday and could have faced 15 years in jail if found guilty.

"I did not believe I would receive a fair trial," said Ungpakorn, an associate professor of political science at Chulalongkom University and a contributor to the New Statesman magazine and Asia Sentinel.

Ungpakorn, who has an English mother and son, and who studied at Sussex and Durham universities and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, wrote A Coup For The Rich, in which he criticises the 2006 military coup.
He said the charges arose out of eight paragraphs deemed insulting to King Bhumibol. He said the director of a university bookshop stocking his book had informed the special branch that it "insulted the monarchy". The offending paragraphs deal with incidents around the coup.

"It is clear that the charge is really about preventing any discussion about the relationship between the military junta and the monarchy," Ungpakorn said. "This is in order to protect the military's sole claim to legitimacy: that it acted in the interests of the monarchy."

Carole Seymour-Jones of PEN, the international writers organisation, said: "We remain deeply concerned by the increased use of lese-majeste laws in Thailand. Giles is the second New Statesman contributor to have faced such charges in recent months, the first being the Australian writer Harry Nicolaides, sentenced to three years in prison on January 19."
Guardian News & Media

To opt living in the UK, especially at this time of year, must mean the situation is serious . . .
What ever happened to that woman who was jailed end of last year?

Pathetically medieval

Like Father, like son. Another scholar the suppressive paranoid state has forced to jump ship. Regardless of his political identity, Professor Ungpakorn could be an asset less a detriment to the society. It's an unfortunate sign of the times. Sad to note the number of contemporaries {and historic} that have had their lives compromised fleeing to exile, whom could easily be looked upon as benefators to promoting a better Thailand.

Originally Posted by panama hat

And the free speech advocates keep leaving the loving kingdom . . . .



To opt living in the UK, especially at this time of year, must mean the situation is serious . . .
What ever happened to that woman who was jailed end of last year?

Pathetically medieval

Luckily for him he has British Citizenship otherwise the British govournment would likely throw him back to the sharks who are currently having a LM ( as interpreted by them ) feeding frenzy. There are at least two women currently rotting in jail under the same charge. The most recent was Boonyuen Prasertying who got a 12 year sentance ( reduced to 6 for a ' confession ' ). She was her families breadwinner and her youngest son is still at school. Meanwhile, the Thai authorities allow a British paedophile ( arrested several times ) out on bail for several years ( to re offend ) whilst his appeal slowly works its way to the top of the pile. What does this say....they care more about some oblique remarks that supposedly are a threat to the monarchy than they do about their kids ????

It's just a shame that this type of stuff is still practiced anywhere in the world. Even the Americans who 'gained their freedom' from England are happy to support regimes who take freedom away from their people. And the Brits themselves still allow the old hoohoos to have status and rights average people don't. It shows that they are as bent over as those in places like Saudi Arabia. We really still live in the dark ages.

Originally Posted by Bangyai

they care more about some oblique remarks that supposedly are a threat to the monarchy than they do about their kids ???? Bangyai is offline Add to Bangyai's Reputation Report Post

Priorities, dear Bangyai . . . priorities

Originally Posted by Rattanaburi

We really still live in the dark ages.

Well, you do . . . I moved to Malaysia.

Jumped out of the fire and landed straight into the furnace

Originally Posted by Rattanaburi

It's just a shame that this type of stuff is still practiced anywhere in the world. Even the Americans who 'gained their freedom' from England are happy to support regimes who take freedom away from their people. And the Brits themselves still allow the old hoohoos to have status and rights average people don't. It shows that they are as bent over as those in places like Saudi Arabia. We really still live in the dark ages.

USA and UK have been supporting {and are/have been friendly} and cordially underwriting dark and nasty regimes forever. It's the foundation of both respective foreign policies. They make up the rules as they and invent 'bad guys' and 'good guys' in the interim....where's your history?

Giles' blog has just been blocked by Thai Authorities.

The clampdown on freedom of speech continues.

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

Giles' blog has just been blocked by Thai Authorities.

The clampdown on freedom of speech continues.

Speaking of which, I posted Giles' recent "Red Siam Manifesto" in issues earlier today, it seems to have disappeared now. It's worth a read and can be easily Googled for.

^ Yes it did disapear didnt it. Bloody good read though but obviously a bit too sharp for these pages, but as you say, a good read and worth googling for.

^ what do you mean it disappeared ? it was still there a few hours ago

damn, you guys are right !!! it was Red garbage, but still nice to discuss !!! why not move it to members ?

Asia Sentinel - Red Siam Manifesto

"There is no justice in Thailand," said Mr. Ji in an email sent Monday to the Associated Press. "The regime seems to be inching toward a police state."

Academic on Lèse Majesté Charge Flees Thailand, Goes to England - WSJ.com

from the blog world ................

Giles asked for a personal leave to attend a seminar in the UK, the leave request had not been approved by the faculty, anyway, nothing serious in term of his leave. So he did not simply “flee” but asked for a leave.

Anyway the new also reported that a notification of “the” websites, can be done from oversea, by dialing 1112. They did not informed if it is a toll-free number. Intelligence Bureau advisor said the pardon for “the” cases had always been granted. Harry Nicolaides’ pardon request is “in progress.”

~Meaw & More~

^ Yeah, yeah... all well & good after the man is safe. I don't believe Thai officialdom at all.

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

Giles' blog has just been blocked by Thai Authorities.

The clampdown on freedom of speech continues.

His blog was difficult to find in the best of times.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

^ what do you mean it disappeared ? it was still there a few hours ago

damn, you guys are right !!! it was Red garbage, but still nice to discuss !!! why not move it to members ?

I'd trade Ungpakorn's Socialism to Shinawatra's Fascism anyday.

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

I'd trade Ungpakorn's Socialism

He sounds more like a Maoist revolutionary than a peaceful Socialist,

He doesn't come across as well reasoned and balanced, but more like an activist. Shinawatra regime wasn't Facism, but Authoritarian, get your definition straight

Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp

Sorry folks, I had something really insightful to add but I fear the consequences, I have heard too many stories like this recently - oh, I should mention that I know for a fact the stories make it overseas also and do have some influence in changing the holiday plans of some.

Oh, come on Scampy. Spill the beans - your amongst friends here.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

He sounds more like a Maoist revolutionary than a peaceful Socialist

A direct quote from the man:

"Fighting outside the confines of present day Thai society does not mean taking up arms. It means arming ourselves and the masses of pro-democracy people with ideas that can lead to freedom...Our weapons will be mass demonstrations, strikes and spreading ideas to all sections of society, including the lower ranks of the army."

How is that in any way Maoist? Or, to put the question another way:

Originally Posted by Butterfly

get your definition straight

Originally Posted by Dan

How is that in any way Maoist?

He is a Revolutionary Red, but technically not a full blown Maoist, or I should say a Maoist inspired Revolutionary

for reference:

Maoism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by Wiki

The basic tenets of Maoism include revolutionary struggle of the vast majority of people against what they term the exploiting classes and their state structures, termed a People's War.

Usually involving peasants, its military strategies have involved guerrilla war tactics focused on surrounding the cities from the countryside, with a heavy emphasis on political transformation through the mass involvement of the basic people of the society. Maoism departs from conventional European-inspired Marxism in that its focus is on the agrarian countryside, rather than the industrial urban forces.

Sounds pretty close to what the Reds aspire to !!! the awakening of the Issaan peasants

You're an imbecile. Involving the peasants in politics does not make you a Maoist. (This is no doubt muddying the waters for you but there is a difference between a necessary and a sufficient condition; you have identified the former and not the latter.)

If you can find a quotation from Giles which shows unambiguously that he's a Maoist (or, at the very least, an open advocate of armed, revolutionary insurrection against the government), I'll happily stand corrected but in the absence of this, please don't dig that hole any deeper.

And, by the way, there is a distinction between being a Democratic Socialist and being a Revolutionary Socialist and, what's more, not all, or even the majority, of the latter are Maoist.