The website Political Prisoners in Thailand has an interesting take of the dropping of lese majeste charges against the actor who gave the "I love father" speech at an awards ceremony:
"The Bangkok Post reports that police have decided that they will not take legal action against the actor who made a speech that was supportive of the monarchy while being remarkably intolerant of political dissent (no commentator seems to dwell on this).
The Metropolitan Police Bureau decided this after “consulting linguists and law experts on ways the word ‘father’ might be perceived by the audience listening to Pongpat’s speech at the Nataraj Awards ceremony held on May 16.” Apparently the police were able to determine that the actor was being respectful of the king. Of course he was.
But that’s not the point for PPT. The case has amply demonstrated the abuse of this political law and the double standards involved in lese majeste cases. The point is to get rid of a terrible law, not decide which unfortunate to investigate, prosecute and jail. Drop all cases and release and exonerate all the victims who currently languish in the horrid prison system."
http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/
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"Love it or leave it" actor cleared of lese majeste
Started by TheYenta, Jul 29 2010 10:15 AM
2 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 30 July 2010 - 02:05 AM
Priscilla's birthday is coming up and it will be interesting to see how she's going to approach the issue of the recent Red Shirt massacre, if at all. She often purports to be carrying the word and wishes of Elvis in her birthday speeches. I wonder if this year's celebrations are going to be toned down for security reasons. She and Elvis Jr are the least popular members of that rock n roll family and she's been widely suspected as the force behind the Yellows.
"I was thought to be 'stuck up.' I wasn't. I was just sure of myself. This is and always has been an unforgivable quality to the unsure."
Bette Davis
Bette Davis
#3
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Posted 30 July 2010 - 11:04 AM
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the actor who made a speech that was supportive of the monarchy while being remarkably intolerant of political dissent (no commentator seems to dwell on this).
I have no doubt that the speech was well intentioned and that the actor has genuine affection for the king, but the speech he gave reminded me of those old license plates you used to see in the USA forty years ago during the Vietnam War era: "America, Love it or Leave it." It's intolerance which is a very destructive attitude to be promoting on any level. The idea that Thais who do not love the king should leave the country is no different than those license plates. It's a shame that so many people in this country who claim to be educated and politically aware don't understand or appreciate that tolerance is what freedom and democracy are all about. Telling people they should love the king or leave is wrong.
