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Rhetoric and Dissent: Where to next for Thailand’s lèse majesté law?”

Mon, 11/06/2012 - 14:52 | by prachatai

Video clip of panel discussion on the lese majeste law held on 7 June in Bangkok with speakers including Benedict Anderson,  Pravit Rojanaphruk, Andrew MacGregor Marshall (via Skype), and Sulak Sivaraksa, moderated by Lisa Gardner.


Video clip by Prainn2011

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#27357 - by jim taylor (visitor) () | Mon, 11/06/2012 - 16:42

for me the panel on the whole

for me the panel on the whole (though I did not hear Andrew Marshall) was rambling, disjointed and seemingly confused on issues: the panel selection of two anti-Thaksinites (royalist reactionary and spurious progessive and pro-yellow shirt), and an esteemed academic who, despite impeccable credentials, seems to have lost the plot on Thailand since 19 September 2006. Personally I'd rather hear from Dr Worajet Pakirat.

#27390 - by Postman (visitor) () | Mon, 18/06/2012 - 21:03

I agree with Jim. Having

I agree with Jim. Having persevered listened to what is probably the most inconsequential and mind-numbingly boring 'conference', I came away with this series of impressions.

The overall content: having only a passing, and perhaps accidental relevance of any kind to lese majeste

Pravit Rojanaphruk: disappointingly trivial and insubstantial.

Benedict Anderson: Rambling and devoid of any relevance.

Sulak Sivaraksa: Almost completely irrelevant other than to rightly note the almost complete absence of talent among Thais and that loyalty must be earned and should not be demanded..

Andrew MacGregor Marshall: irrelevant, which was disappointing.

Lisa Gardner: shrill, obsequious, lacking any noticeable charisma and possessed of an irritating nervous laugh.

I speak as I find. Frankly, the overwhelming after-taste is one of self-importance, self-congratulation and smugness on behalf of the presenter and all the speakers. The monarchists must be laughing in their beer if that is the best the anti-112 lobby can do.

#27391 - by Andrew Spooner (visitor) () | Mon, 18/06/2012 - 23:09

If there is going to be a

If there is going to be a serious debate about lese majeste it's important the very basic facts are correct.

At 2min 40sec Lisa Gardner states that a "lese majeste charge" has been levelled against the person sitting next to her. That would be Pravit.

But Pravit has not been "charged". A complaint was made against him and apart from the standard investigation necessitated by that complaint no charge has yet been forthcoming. In fact, to my knowledge, Pravit has not even been given formal notice that an investigation is taking place.

In short, Gardner, as well as being irritatingly obsequious, gets the basic facts in her opening statement completely wrong.