Activist Mike Rayong leaves Thailand, citing safety and freedom

[snoop1130]

 

Mike Rayong, a Thai activist known formally as Panupong Jadnok, shared an emotional account of his decision to leave Thailand, primarily driven by a desire for safety and greater freedom. The activist expressed his pain at leaving behind his mother and homeland.

 

Panupong took to Facebook to explain his heart-wrenching decision to leave his home country. He addressed his followers with a heartfelt message.

 

“Hello to all my respected and beloved supporters. Today, I want to share with you the most difficult decision of my life: leaving my home, my family, and especially my beloved mother. This decision to leave the country did not come from a desire to abandon anything but out of necessity and hope for a safer life with more freedom.”

 

The activist highlighted that his choice to emigrate was made after thorough and careful consideration, weighing the impact on his loved ones. He stressed that the decision was not due to personal weakness but a response to the unjust legal system in Thailand.

 

“The thoughts and considerations were many but the realisation that the root cause of the impact was not from me but from an unjust judicial process that has oppressed us, causing many to lose their freedom and, in the worst cases, their lives.”

 

 

 

 

Panupong’s post delved deeply into the emotional toll of leaving his mother behind. He described her as his most precious possession and the separation as indescribably painful.

 

“I believe everyone understands that saying goodbye is never easy. Leaving Thailand was not because of weakness but due to the injustice, lack of safety, and restricted freedom I faced. The most painful part is leaving my mother, the last precious thing I have in life. This forced separation is beyond words, leaving only tears and a heavy heart.”

 

Aims to return

 

In his message, Panupong expressed a glimmer of hope, aiming to return and care for his mother in her final days or, at the very least, to build a better future that would ease her worries.

 

“Despite the sadness and pain, I hold onto the hope that one day I can return to care for my mother in her final days. At the very least, I aim to create a better future to ease her worries and make her proud of her son’s journey.”

 

Panupong also voiced his determination to advocate for political freedom and human rights. He hopes to be a voice for those oppressed by the political system in Thailand and to fight for the freedom of political prisoners, reported KhaoSod.

 

“I also hope to be a voice for every fighter, to let the civilised world know about the oppression and restricted freedoms for political dissidents in Thailand. I demand freedom for those prosecuted for their differing opinions and all political prisoners, as a global citizen. With respect and heartfelt thanks, Panupong Jadnok.”

 

By Ryan Turner

Image: KhaoSod

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-09-16
 

 

[ikke1959]

Good deed, as in Thailand you can be convicted for every post on social media, or every word you speak... Defamation  about police, hotels and other subjects we can read many times here.... The Thai freedom of speech, writing and thinking and words is far away

[Tropicalevo]

Tough decision, but I think, the right one.

You cannot look after your ageing mother from a gaol cell.

Good luck sir.

[newbee2022]

Good move. Save your life👍😇

[Bday Prang]

Real activists stay and fight ,  he has chosen to run away ,  He has now  lost  any credibility or influence he may have had.   Should have just agreed to  keep  his mouth shut, he could then have looked after his mother.  his political protests will never amount to anything significant, especially once he leaves.   He is wasting his time  and acting selfishly 

Where will he go to anyway ?  his options are limited unless he has some secret wealth, Dubai is not cheap

Edited September 16 by Bday Prang

[Tropicalevo]

58 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Real activists stay and fight ,  he has chosen to run away ,  He has now  lost  any credibility or influence he may have had.   Should have just agreed to  keep  his mouth shut,

 

Real activists do not keep their mouths shut.

[mfd101]

So, does anyone have background knowledge on his activities & what he stands for?

 

Has he spent time in prison for lèse-majesté matters? What political crimes have been committed against him? ...

[MangoKorat]

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

Real activists stay and fight ,  he has chosen to run away

And just how do you 'stay and fight' if you're locked up for simply critcising the system?  You know very well that even if he says something that isn't actually illegal - if they don't like it, he will face trumped up charges.

 

Its very easy for us to pass judgment on this guy, we are not Thai so although we may comment on the country's so called democracy etc. it doesn't really get to us, not in the way it does for those Thai's who care -  its not our country.

Edited September 16 by MangoKorat

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, MangoKorat said:

And just how do you 'stay and fight' if you're locked up for simply critcising the system?  You know very well that even if he says something that isn't actually illegal - if they don't like it, he will face trumped up charges.

 

Its very easy for us to pass judgment on this guy, we are not Thai so although we may comment on the country's so called democracy etc. it doesn't really get to us, not in the way it does for those Thai's who care -  its not our country.

 

And the reality is that even foreigners (me 35 years and a PR) don't really fully  understand the system, the inuendo, the law, the politics etc.

 

My Thai adult son (40 yo, wife, 4 kids) speaks reads / writes fluent Thai and English and has strong capability with the Essan language.

 

He follows these subjects daily and tells me often there's things happening which horrify him but he doesn't speak out because he has a very good income from his professional career and puts a lot of time and effort into getting his 4 kids well educated and well provided for. And it can be quite dangerous to speak out.

 

How anybody approaches such situations is ultimately personal choice and their choice should be respected.  

Edited September 16 by scorecard

[Celsius]

6 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Good deed, as in Thailand you can be convicted for every post on social media, or every word you speak... Defamation  about police, hotels and other subjects we can read many times here.... The Thai freedom of speech, writing and thinking and words is far away

 

I hope he is not leaving for UK

[lordgrinz]

Keep looking over your shoulder, and run like Hell if you see any black vans slowly approaching.

[Rhys]

Always forward.... keep your head down.

[soi3eddie]

7 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Real activists stay and fight , 

 

I learned a long time ago. No point in being right if you are dead right! Wise move by Mike Ryong IMO. Lots of Thais "dissapeared" in Thailand - and out of Thailand.

 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

And the reality is that even foreigners (me 35 years and a PR) don't really fully  understand the system, the inuendo, the law, the politics etc.

 

My Thai adult son (40 yo, wife, 4 kids) speaks reads / writes fluent Thai and English and has strong capability with the Essan language.

 

He follows these subjects daily and tells me often there's things happening which horrify him but he doesn't speak out because he has a very good income from his professional career and puts a lot of time and effort into getting his 4 kids well educated and well provided for. And it can be quite dangerous to speak out.

 

How anybody approaches such situations is ultimately personal choice and their choice should be respected.  

A sensible son, keep your head down and thoughts to yourself.

[scorecard]

37 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

A sensible son, keep your head down and thoughts to yourself.

Sure but he has great concerns for the future of Thailand, the lack of development, the lack of a strong focused high performing government free of nepotism, cronyism and family dynasties, and for the future for his kids. 

[Hunz Kittisak]

If he’s sent to jail will the people here label him as a criminal, a felon, a convict? 
Or sympathize that it’s all politically motivated?

[dinsdale]

A clear reaction to the weaponisation of Section 112.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

A clear reaction to the weaponisation of Section 112.

 

Sure that frightens my son but he is not about to say anything to anybody. That would do quite some damage to his current job situation and to his reputation and he would never do anything which might cause any issues / damage to his 4 kids. 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

If he’s sent to jail will the people here label him as a criminal, a felon, a convict? 
Or sympathize that it’s all politically motivated?

 

 That's not going to happen, my son never says anything.

 

If he did go to jail he would be dismissed from his very job job and would never get a good position like this again. Not going to happen.

 

Yes others know that it's all politically driven but son needs to win new contracts and some potential clients would see the 'politically driven' angle, others not. 

 

[MalcolmB]

9 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

I hope he is not leaving for UK

He was seen paddling out on a rubber dingy so quite likely.

[john donson]

come on, he can't take his mother to cambodia or other neighbor country?

[rtco]

14 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Should have just agreed to  keep  his mouth shut

Stupid post ... then he becomes a non-activist

[lordgrinz]

11 minutes ago, rtco said:

Stupid post ... then he becomes a non-activist

 

It's better than becoming one of the non-living.

[spidermike007]

Since Thailand is not a democracy, with very, very small men, with a lot of power, who lack any vision, and insist on using draconian and outdated laws to stifle freedom of speech, and freedom of the press, the nation continues its backwards march into oblivion and irrelevancy. 

 

Not a good place to be if you are an outspoken activist. 

[scorecard]

44 minutes ago, john donson said:

come on, he can't take his mother to cambodia or other neighbor country?

 

Have to consider whether she could survive in another culture, no friends, food not the same etc. 

[Bday Prang]

7 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

Have to consider whether she could survive in another culture, no friends, food not the same etc. 

She must be of advanced years , he could have just put his crusade on hold  until nature takes its course

[Bday Prang]

29 minutes ago, rtco said:

Stupid post ... then he becomes a non-activist

But would at least be able to achieve something , IE  care of his ailing mother.   His activist activities will achieve nothing  except his incarceration or worse

[Patong2021]

14 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Real activists stay and fight ,  he has chosen to run away ,  He has now  lost  any credibility or influence he may have had.   Should have just agreed to  keep  his mouth shut, he could then have looked after his mother.  his political protests will never amount to anything significant, especially once he leaves.   He is wasting his time  and acting selfishly 

Where will he go to anyway ?  his options are limited unless he has some secret wealth, Dubai is not cheap

 

How do you propose that he stay and fight?  Do you even know who he is and the campaign mounted against him?

He has not chosen to run away. He was forced into exile.

How has he lost "any credibility or influence he may have had" ? He will be able to continue his activity from the safety of New Zealand. Had he remained in Thailand, he would have been sent to a  prison where he would have been subject to  physical violence. He can look after his mother now. Had he remained, he would be unable to take care of her.

 

I note that New Zealand is a Constitutional Monarchy and King Charles III, is the head of state.  New Zealand, acting on behalf of the Crown, protects the rights of all, including political refugees.

[lordgrinz]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Since Thailand is not a democracy, with very, very small men, with a lot of power, who lack any vision, and insist on using draconian and outdated laws to stifle freedom of speech, and freedom of the press, the nation continues its backwards march into oblivion and irrelevancy. 

 

Not a good place to be if you are an outspoken activist. 

 

They've been attacked abroad as well, there appears to be nowhere they can hide from the evil empire of Thailand.

[Burma Bill]

18 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Real activists stay and fight ,  he has chosen to run away ,  He has now  lost  any credibility or influence he may have had.   Should have just agreed to  keep  his mouth shut, he could then have looked after his mother.  his political protests will never amount to anything significant, especially once he leaves.   He is wasting his time  and acting selfishly 

Where will he go to anyway ?  his options are limited unless he has some secret wealth, Dubai is not cheap

 

"Rollox"!