[Marxism] Thai socialist activist Giles Ungpakorn summonsed for criticising Thai royalty

[glparramatta <glparramatta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

*_Associate Prof. Giles Ji Ungpakorn summonsed by police over les 
majesty case_*

*_ _*

Associate Professor Giles Ji Ungpakorn, Faculty of Political Science, 
Chulalongkorn University, has been summonsed to Pathumwan police station 
for questioning at 13.00 hrs on Tuesday 23th January 2009. The summons 
was issued as a result of a complaint filed by Special Branch Police Lt 
Col. Pansak Sasana-anund. Professor Ungpakorn has been accused by the 
above individual of les majesty. No details have been given of the 
allegations. Such details should be revealed after the initial police 
interview. Professor Ungpakorn has not yet been officially charged.

 

Professor Ungpakorn will give a press conference outside the Pathumwan 
police station at 12.30 and will also be available to answer questions 
after the police interview.

 

As a political science lecturer, Professor Ungpakorn has written a 
number of academic articles concerning the monarchy. These can be read 
on his web blog: http://wdpress.blog.co.uk/  and in his book "A Coup for 
the Rich". The book was withdrawn from sale by Chulalongkorn University 
and Thammasart University bookshops. It can be down-loaded from his 
weblog for free.

 

The Monarchy has been quoted and used by various political factions in 
Thailand to legitimise their actions.The most notable cases are the 
19^th September 2006 military coup and the illegal protests by the 
yellow-shirted P.A.D., which included shutting down the international 
airports. Les Majesty charges in Thailand are notorious for being used 
by different political factions to attack their opponents. Many believe 
that this law is actually counter-productive to defending the Monarchy. 
This is why it is very important that political scientists attempt to 
analyse the real role and nature of the Thai Monarchy in an atmosphere 
of freedom and democracy.

 

Professor Ungpakorn is prepared to fight any les majesty charges in 
order to defend academic freedom, the freedom of expression and 
democracy in Thailand.

 

Since this accusation was filed by a Special Branch officer, the present 
Democrat Party Government should be questioned about its role in this 
and many other cases. The new Prime Minister has stated that he wants to 
see a firm crackdown on les majesty. In late December, the police filed 
allegations of les majesty against the BBC correspondent in Bangkok, 
Jonathan Head. Many other cases are also pending.

 

Bangkok 11 January 2009

 

*_What you can do_*

 

1.    Write a letter of protest/concern to Prime Minister  Abhisit 
Vejjajiva, Government House, Bangkok, Thailand

2.    Write a letter of protest/concern to the Ambassador, The Royal 
Thai Embassy, in your country.

3.    Demand that Amnesty International take up all Les Majesty cases in 
Thailand.


-- 
Giles Ji Ungpakorn
Faculty of Political Science
Chulalongkorn University
Bangkok 10330, Thailand
+66-(0)813469481
UK mobile:+44-(0)7817034432
http://www.pcpthai.org/
http://wdpress.blog.co.uk/
see YOUTUBE videos by Giles53


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