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Unspeakable Things - new online journal issue on Thai politics, censorship, and objects of critique

Mon, 18/06/2012 - 17:00 | by prachatai

Sensate: A Journal of Critical Media Practice has launched a special issue of its online journal "Unspeakable Things" ["สิ่งที่แตะต้องไม่ได้"].

The first installment of the issue (two more will follow), including an introduction by editors Ben Tausig and Tyrell Haberkorn, "Time's Arrow" by Craig Reynolds et al., "Dear Daranee" by Elizabeth Fitzgerald, and "Music on the Table" by Ben Tausig and Peter Doolan, is available here.

'In "Unspeakable Things," we explore Thai politics through everyday objects - both Thai and foreign analysts are limited in what we can say directly, so we turn to objects as a strategy of dissident analysis. We began this project as the one-year anniversary of the April-May 2010 violent crackdown by Thai state forces on red shirt protestors passed.  We are finishing as the second anniversary of the crackdown passes with accountability still elusive. This series is also launched at a time when the number of people convicted of violations of Article 112 and the 2007 Computer Crimes Act is high and growing', the group said in its statement.

'Each piece in this series combines different media forms to create a layered, interactive collage of words, images, video, and sound. At this time, the introduction and the first three pieces, with contributions by Craig Reynolds and Team, Ben Tausig and Peter Doolan, and Elizabeth Fitzgerald, have been published. The remaining six pieces will be released over the coming weeks.  We invite you to spend time viewing, listening, and reading, and in so doing reflect on the Thai present and the resonances and effects of what can be spoken and what utterances remain forbidden. We thank you in advance for your time and welcome your feedback', the group said.

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Comments

#27393 - by expat (visitor) () | Tue, 19/06/2012 - 11:31

Dear Daranee " ...and the

Dear Daranee " ...and the prosecutor’s job is to demonstrate the danger (to the royal institution, to national security) of this violation during the trial."

Clearly the author does not understand the Thai judicial system.

It was not the prosecutor's job to prove Daranee's guilt, but it was Daranee's job to prove her innocence. In Thailand "Innocence until proven guilty" does not apply and this is true for all criminal cases.

#27394 - by Frank G Anderson (visitor) () | Tue, 19/06/2012 - 11:54

As this posting was partly

As this posting was partly about censorship, I wonder if readers might like to register their opinion on the unique style of body painting that took place on 17 June 2012 in Bangkok. Please see link to survey here. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FMTSCZK
Thanks for replying to the questions.

#27400 - by john francis lee (visitor) () | Wed, 20/06/2012 - 05:13

Speaking of unspeakable

Speaking of unspeakable things ...

The State Department Goes Bad

Take the recent case of Sandra Tamari. Ms Tamari is a Quaker, the mother of two children, an American citizen of Palestinian descent, and also a member of the St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee. She traveled to Israel at the end of May 2012 to “participate in an interfaith delegation involving Palestinians and Israelis working for peace and coexistence.” She was stopped at Ben Gurion Airport and “aggressively questioned for over eight hours before being taken to a detention center and deported back to the United States. During the questioning, Israeli security demanded that she show them her personal email account and accused her of being a terrorist.”

Given her situation, Ms Tamari attempted to contact the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. It took a couple of hours for her to actually get someone to speak to. This someone was Mr. Chris Kane, a General Service Officer. According to Ms Tamari’s account here is how part of the conversation went:

Tamari:
They are threatening to deny me entry and to deport me
Kane:
Are you Jewish?
Tamari:
No
Kane:
Have you been here before?
Tamari:
Yes, several times. I am a Palestinian with family in the West Bank.
Kane:
Oh, you have family in the West Bank. Then there is nothing I can do to help you. In fact if I interceded on your behalf, it will hurt your case with the Israelis.
Tamari:
I don’t understand. You are saying you can’t speak with them. You have no influence ...
Kane:
They won’t harm you. You will be sent home on the next flight out. I hope I have been of good service to you.
Tamari:
Frankly, you have done nothing for me.
Kane:
Well, at least you can say I did it kindly.

I didn't make this up!

#27401 - by john francis lee (visitor) () | Wed, 20/06/2012 - 05:16

Speaking of unspeakable

Speaking of unspeakable things ...

The State Department Goes Bad

Take the recent case of Joe Gordon. Mr Gordon is an American citizen of Thai descent. He traveled to Thailand to visit family and to receive medical treatment. He was bizarrely imprisoned by the Royal Thai Police for a non-crime 'committed' in the USA and denied bail.

Given his situation, Mr Gordon attempted to contact the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. It took a couple of hours for him to actually get someone to speak to. This someone was Kristie A. Kenney, the US Ambassador to Thailand. According to Mr Gordon’s account here is how part of the conversation went:

Gordon:
They have imprisoned me and denied me bail!
Kenney:
Are you Royalist Thai 'elite'?
Gordon:
No. I'm an ordinary American of Thai descent.
Kenney:
Have you been here before?
Gordon:
Yes, several times. I am have family in the Isaan.
Kenney:
Oh, you have family in Isaan. Then there is nothing I can do to help you. In fact if I interceded on your behalf, it will hurt your case with the Thais.
Gordon:
I don’t understand. You are saying you can’t speak with them. You have no influence ...
Kenney:
They won’t harm you, too much. You will be sentenced and tried. Plead guilty and you might get a pardon. I hope I have been of good service to you.
Gordon:
Frankly, you have done nothing for me.
Kenney:
Well, at least you can say I did it kindly.

OK. I made it up.