"The Criminal Court yesterday approved a warrant for the arrest of politician and television host Veera Musikapong on lese majeste charges.
The warrant was sought by Chanasongkhram police investigators in connection with Mr Veera's speech on May 6, last year at a pro-Thaksin Shinawatra United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship rally. Police deemed Mr Veera's rally speech as insulting to the monarchy.
The court found that there were grounds to grant the warrant and asked police to report to the court within seven days after the arrest is made."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/210808_News/21Aug2008_news23.php
0
Police charge TV announcer with lese majeste
Started by Expattaya, Aug 21 2008 10:44 AM
1 reply to this topic
#2
-
- Members
-
- 3,744 posts
Veteran
Posted 21 August 2008 - 03:34 PM
There seems to be little doubt that certain elements in Thailand outside the palace view lese majeste as a weapon to silence criticism of what they see as the privileged status quo. The fact that they have now chosen a TV announcer as their latest target for levelling charges of lese majeste is bound to have a chilling effect on journalists as a whole. Given the fragile state of that journalism, this kind of intimidation can be very effective.
One wonders how a British court examining the issue of granting Khun Thaksin political asylum would react to stories of how Thailand's judicial system still tolerates and even encourages use of lese majeste to deny civil liberties that are taken for granted in most western countries. Delivering an accused into the hands of a foreign system capable of conducting such Star Chamber proceedings is a sobering thought for any judge contemplating extradition or the denial of asylum. I sometimes wonder if the Thais realize that.
One wonders how a British court examining the issue of granting Khun Thaksin political asylum would react to stories of how Thailand's judicial system still tolerates and even encourages use of lese majeste to deny civil liberties that are taken for granted in most western countries. Delivering an accused into the hands of a foreign system capable of conducting such Star Chamber proceedings is a sobering thought for any judge contemplating extradition or the denial of asylum. I sometimes wonder if the Thais realize that.
