112 | Asia News – Politics, Media, Education

Archives

Thai historian and academic Somsak (left) and veteran social activist Sulak (middle) during the making of the ThaiPBS TV show.

After the Thai TV monarchy debate, controversy is growing

By Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices Fri, Mar 22, 2013 11:00AM UTC 0 Comment

A Thai TV program discussing the role of the monarchy has sparked growing controversy, with reactionary voices sparking a police investigation. The public broadcaster ThaiPBS aired a week-long special of its interview and discussion program ”Tob Jote Prathet Thai” (“ตอบโจทย์ประเทศไทย”, roughly translated to “Answering Thailand’s Issues”) about the royal institution. The series culminated in a two-episode debate...

Read Full Story ›

No country for bold stances: Thai TV station cancels royalty debate

By Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices Mon, Mar 18, 2013 11:00AM UTC 0 Comment

For the second time this year, a television program was forced off the air in Thailand due to the perceived politically controversial content. However, this episode is much more than just a cancelled show – it was a test on how much it was possible to have a debate on the most sensitive and serious...

Read Full Story ›

Debate rages over Thailand’s lèse majesté law

By Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices Mon, Feb 04, 2013 10:30AM UTC 0 Comment

Students from Thammasat and Chulalongkorn University show a banner during a football match between the two universities on February 2, 2013. The students are calling for the release of veteran labor activist Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, who has been sentenced to 11 years in jail for lèse majesté in January 2013. (Picture via Twitter/@Anuthee)

After the verdict against veteran labor activist Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, discussions about lèse majesté have been reignited on many levels and also in many forms. Somyot was recently sentenced to 11 years in prison, 10 of them for publishing articles (which he didn’t write himself) in a magazine that were deemed insulting to the monarchy – after being previously...

Read Full Story ›

Inside view: Thailand’s lese majeste law claims latest victim

By Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices Thu, Jan 24, 2013 11:00AM UTC 0 Comment

Somyot Pruksakasemsuk arrives in court in Bangkok Wednesday. Pic: AP.

The court room was packed: 200 people filled the largest room the Criminal Court in Bangkok has to offer – journalists, observers from many Western embassies and other interested parties, all eagerly waiting for the session to begin. The general chatter of the crowd was interrupted by an all too familiar sound from the back...

Read Full Story ›

Thailand sentences editor to 10 years in jail for royal insult

By AP News Wed, Jan 23, 2013 12:53PM UTC 0 Comment

Somyot Pruksakasemsuk walks to a court room at criminal court in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday. Pic: AP.

BANGKOK (AP) — A prominent Thai activist and magazine editor was sentenced to a decade in prison Wednesday for defaming Thailand’s monarchy, a verdict rights groups condemned as the latest affront to freedom of expression in the Southeast Asian country. Somyot Pruksakasemsuk was convicted of publishing two articles in an anti-establishment magazine that made negative...

Read Full Story ›