'Red Power' Editor Somyos Arrested On Lese Majeste Charges

[Lite Beer]

'Red Power' editor Somyos arrested

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation on Sunday.

Red Power magazine editor Somyos Prueksakasemsuk was arrested yesterday afternoon for alleged lese majeste, after trying to leave the Kingdom on a fund-raising tour to Cambodia

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested Somyos after being notified by border officers at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew province that Somyos was leading some 30 or so red shirts on a fund-raising tour for the magazine to Angkor Wat.

Somyos was charged last week with alleged lese majeste over an article in the February and March issue of the now-banned Voice of Thaksin magazine, which he published in February. He denied the charge and insisted yesterday that he was innocent.

"We're fighting for the right to be human," he said on the phone shortly after 5pm yesterday, while inside a DSI vehicle on the way from Sa Kaew back to Bangkok.

It was unclear at press time if Somyos would be granted bail or not, but a DSI officer told a local media outlet they were determined to detain him until Monday, when a court would decide whether he should be given bail or not.

Speaking on his mobile phone, Somyos said he was surprised by the incident. He said the timing of his arrest, coupled with other developments, such as the crackdown on many red-shirt community radio stations, a new wave of internet censorship, plus "harassment" of a red-shirt historian and lese majeste charges against 18 red-shirt leaders had all taken place at a "suspicious" time - just before the election.

"I think they're all related to the current [political] situation," said Somyos, who was detained for a month without charge last year under the emergency decree.

-- The Nation 2011-05-01

[Thaddeus]

"We're fighting for the right to be human,"

Does that mean that genetic modification is also included in Thaksin's health care scheme?

[rubl]

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested Somyos after being notified by border officers at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew province that Somyos was leading some 30 or so red shirts on a fund-raising tour for the magazine to Angkor Wat.

This needs some explanation.

- did some 30 red-shirts pay to have a tour to Angkor Wat?

- will funds be raised in Cambodia?

- remember when a few years ago a Thai actress or singer suggested 'Angkor Wat is Thai' and a few buildings in Phnom Penh were torched. What does k. Somyos think he's doing? Trying to incite a full scale war?

[timekeeper]

"We're fighting for the right to be human,"

Does that mean that genetic modification is also included in Thaksin's health care scheme?

its hard to believe that they actually believe that BS

he looks human enough to me

he just needs unbrainwasing............

[otherstuff1957]

Visiting Ankor Wat and cheering on the Cambodian Army no doubt.

While I am no fan of the LM law, if anyone is guilty of it it is Somyos, with his glorification of such regicides as Cromwell and Lenin and his repeated references to the fates of the Romanovs and the Nepalese royal family.

[barrybankruad]

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested Somyos after being notified by border officers at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew province that Somyos was leading some 30 or so red shirts on a fund-raising tour for the magazine to Angkor Wat.

This needs some explanation.

- did some 30 red-shirts pay to have a tour to Angkor Wat?

- will funds be raised in Cambodia?

- remember when a few years ago a Thai actress or singer suggested 'Angkor Wat is Thai' and a few buildings in Phnom Penh were torched. What does k. Somyos think he's doing? Trying to incite a full scale war?

The Thai actress in question vehemently denied having made that statement. Those 'few buildings' that you refer to were in fact the Thai Embassy, a bank, and several other Thai businesses. Thaksin at the time stated that if further damage or harassment of Thais took place he would consider invading Cambodia. The border was closed and Thaksin stated that it would remain closed until 40million dollars was forthcoming from the Cambodians to repair the damage that had been done. Cambodia just did not have that sortof money, so the Casino operators in Cambodia paid up and the border was reopened.

[SanitreeNapikin]

he and the cop look really happy and joyful at the arrest....bizarre!

[philw]

Visiting Ankor Wat and cheering on the Cambodian Army no doubt.

While I am no fan of the LM law, if anyone is guilty of it it is Somyos, with his glorification of such regicides as Cromwell and Lenin and his repeated references to the fates of the Romanovs and the Nepalese royal family.

Surely, even in these twisted times, references to Lenin and Cromwell do not constitute LM and if they do, what hope is there...........????

[asiawatcher]

So 18 Red Shirts were heading to the border to 'raise funds' after the crack down this week on their activities - Cambodia? a "broke" enemy of Thailand? - oh good grief Carlie Brown, give me a break - just arrest them all and worry about it later - seems to me you can sprout any amount of BS here and people are expected to believe it!

[rubl]

Visiting Ankor Wat and cheering on the Cambodian Army no doubt.

While I am no fan of the LM law, if anyone is guilty of it it is Somyos, with his glorification of such regicides as Cromwell and Lenin and his repeated references to the fates of the Romanovs and the Nepalese royal family.

Surely, even in these twisted times, references to Lenin and Cromwell do not constitute LM and if they do, what hope is there...........????

Red Shirt publications often feature articles about historical revolutions against monarchies. Pure coincidence of course, but somehow it suggests ........

[MILT]

Visiting Ankor Wat and cheering on the Cambodian Army no doubt.

While I am no fan of the LM law, if anyone is guilty of it it is Somyos, with his glorification of such regicides as Cromwell and Lenin and his repeated references to the fates of the Romanovs and the Nepalese royal family.

Surely, even in these twisted times, references to Lenin and Cromwell do not constitute LM and if they do, what hope is there...........????

It is no secret that by and large the Red faction believe and has stated negative diatribe towards HRH and family. It is just shocking to me that there is really no respect.

[rreddin]

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested Somyos after being notified by border officers at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew province that Somyos was leading some 30 or so red shirts on a fund-raising tour for the magazine to Angkor Wat.

This needs some explanation.

- did some 30 red-shirts pay to have a tour to Angkor Wat?

- will funds be raised in Cambodia?

- remember when a few years ago a Thai actress or singer suggested 'Angkor Wat is Thai' and a few buildings in Phnom Penh were torched. What does k. Somyos think he's doing? Trying to incite a full scale war?

Your response, or least the logic of it, also need some explanataion. How did you get from to OP of a fund-raising tour for the magazine to Angkor Wat to trying to incite full scale war?

[philw]

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested Somyos after being notified by border officers at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew province that Somyos was leading some 30 or so red shirts on a fund-raising tour for the magazine to Angkor Wat.

This needs some explanation.

- did some 30 red-shirts pay to have a tour to Angkor Wat?

- will funds be raised in Cambodia?

- remember when a few years ago a Thai actress or singer suggested 'Angkor Wat is Thai' and a few buildings in Phnom Penh were torched. What does k. Somyos think he's doing? Trying to incite a full scale war?

Your response, or least the logic of it, also need some explanataion. How did you get from to OP of a fund-raising tour for the magazine to Angkor Wat to trying to incite full scale war?

Yeah, well,..............what can say other than welcome to the wonders of ThaiVisa land............They walk amongst us............

[rreddin]

So 18 Red Shirts were heading to the border to 'raise funds' after the crack down this week on their activities - Cambodia? a "broke" enemy of Thailand? - oh good grief Carlie Brown, give me a break - just arrest them all and worry about it later - seems to me you can sprout any amount of BS here and people are expected to believe it!

I assume that the country of your native birth has traditions of democracy, freedom of travel, free speech and whose citizens are not subject to arbitrary arrest and dention. Constitutional rights, which no doubt, you strongly uphold in native country. Why then do you (and other expatriates) advocate withholding those same rights to people in this country? Farangs complain of Thailand having double standards; the Thais make the same complaint against farangs.

[whybother]

So 18 Red Shirts were heading to the border to 'raise funds' after the crack down this week on their activities - Cambodia? a "broke" enemy of Thailand? - oh good grief Carlie Brown, give me a break - just arrest them all and worry about it later - seems to me you can sprout any amount of BS here and people are expected to believe it!

I assume that the country of your native birth has traditions of democracy, freedom of travel, free speech and whose citizens are not subject to arbitrary arrest and dention. Constitutional rights, which no doubt, you strongly uphold in native country. Why then do you (and other expatriates) advocate withholding those same rights to people in this country? Farangs complain of Thailand having double standards; the Thais make the same complaint against farangs.

It wasn't "arbitrary arrest and detention".

He was charged last week with LM charges. He was arrested this time as he was trying to leave the country.

He was free to travel within the country. He was free to speak within the law.

[softgeorge]

looking at the pic everyone seems to be in a very joyful mood.

[mca]

looking at the pic everyone seems to be in a very joyful mood.

They're smirking at the thought of raising a few more blood pressures again on TVF.

[Buchholz]

Visiting Ankor Wat and cheering on the Cambodian Army no doubt.

While I am no fan of the LM law, if anyone is guilty of it it is Somyos, with his glorification of such regicides as Cromwell and Lenin and his repeated references to the fates of the Romanovs and the Nepalese royal family.

Surely, even in these twisted times, references to Lenin and Cromwell do not constitute LM and if they do, what hope is there...........????

It's about revolutionary context. And for the proposed extensions beyond them.

Calling Somyot Prueksakasemsuk a "sympathizer" is perhaps too kind. For nearly a year he ran a magazine that used bloody images to threaten the prime minister, insinuate that judges who rule against Thaksin be assassinated, champion the use of grenades (here and here) and molotov cocktails, and encourage people to "bomb" and "slay" aristocrats.

http://2bangkok.com/09-redpublications.html

And from just prior to May Mayhem 2010:

From Voice of Taksin, March 1-16, 2010

The caption reads:

Special campaign to greet the coup festival - Cheer up, Thaksin! – Do not throw more than 2 bottles a day!

[Employing Molotov cocktails has been often mentioned in Red Shirt speeches. In this cartoon, imagery and advertising slogans from a popular energy drink are used along with the warning on the bottle advises not to drink (or thrown) more than two bottles per day.]

http://2bangkok.com/09-redpublications.html

From Voice of Taksin, September 16-30, 2009

The headlines on the cover read:

3 years of the coup of the influential - Bomb the aristocrats - DESTROY [slay] aristocrats [a grenade is in front of the seal of the Democrat Party]

Edited May 1, 2011 by Buchholz

[jayboy]

It's about revolutionary context. And for the proposed extensions beyond them.

It's just lefty agitprop nonsense which is ignored - or at least tolerated - in most civilised democratic countries (ie excepting North Korea, China etc) just as is the reactionary cheerleading for repression which others are associated.

In the examples you give (actually pretty harmless anyway) there's actually nothing directly linking Somyos although as usual you have found him guilty in advance.

[phiphidon]

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested Somyos after being notified by border officers at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew province that Somyos was leading some 30 or so red shirts on a fund-raising tour for the magazine to Angkor Wat.

This needs some explanation.

- did some 30 red-shirts pay to have a tour to Angkor Wat?

- will funds be raised in Cambodia?

- remember when a few years ago a Thai actress or singer suggested 'Angkor Wat is Thai' and a few buildings in Phnom Penh were torched. What does k. Somyos think he's doing? Trying to incite a full scale war?

Your response, or least the logic of it, also need some explanataion. How did you get from to OP of a fund-raising tour for the magazine to Angkor Wat to trying to incite full scale war?

Yeah, well,..............what can say other than welcome to the wonders of ThaiVisa land............They walk amongst us............

"How did you get from to OP of a fund-raising tour for the magazine to Angkor Wat to trying to incite full scale war?"

I was told in another thread that this is what is known as "ironic speculation" - mind you I was also told by the same poster that my viewpoint was, "absolute propaganda". It's yer double standards, innit!

[rubl]

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested Somyos after being notified by border officers at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew province that Somyos was leading some 30 or so red shirts on a fund-raising tour for the magazine to Angkor Wat.

This needs some explanation.

- did some 30 red-shirts pay to have a tour to Angkor Wat?

- will funds be raised in Cambodia?

- remember when a few years ago a Thai actress or singer suggested 'Angkor Wat is Thai' and a few buildings in Phnom Penh were torched. What does k. Somyos think he's doing? Trying to incite a full scale war?

Your response, or least the logic of it, also need some explanataion. How did you get from to OP of a fund-raising tour for the magazine to Angkor Wat to trying to incite full scale war?

Why you think I started with 'this needs some explanation'. A red-shirts fund-raising tour to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Till now no further information provided. May I speculate a bit and wonder a lot more? May I, please Mr. Rreddin ?

[rubl]

I was told in another thread that this is what is known as "ironic speculation" - mind you I was also told by the same poster that my viewpoint was, "absolute propaganda". It's yer double standards, innit!

Just to clarify a wee bit, another poster described my post in another thread as 'ironic speculation' and PPD's post as 'absolute propaganda' ( ).

I merely observe that opinions differ

( )

Edited May 1, 2011 by rubl

[rubl]

It's about revolutionary context. And for the proposed extensions beyond them.

It's just lefty agitprop nonsense which is ignored - or at least tolerated - in most civilised democratic countries (ie excepting North Korea, China etc) just as is the reactionary cheerleading for repression which others are associated.

In the examples you give (actually pretty harmless anyway) there's actually nothing directly linking Somyos although as usual you have found him guilty in advance.

K. Somyos as editor / publisher can be directly linked and made responsable for the contents of the magazine he publishes.

As for the 'lefty agitprop nonsense which is ignored' you probably mean 'which should be ignored' even if it's published in the Voice of Taksin

Edited May 1, 2011 by rubl

[animatic]

It's about revolutionary context. And for the proposed extensions beyond them.

It's just lefty agitprop nonsense which is ignored - or at least tolerated - in most civilised democratic countries (ie excepting North Korea, China etc) just as is the reactionary cheerleading for repression which others are associated.

In the examples you give (actually pretty harmless anyway) there's actually nothing directly linking Somyos although as usual you have found him guilty in advance.

K. Somyos as editor / publisher can be directly linked and made responsable for the contents of the magazine he publishes.

As for the 'lefty agitprop nonsense which is ignored' you probably mean 'which should be ignored' even if it's published in the Voice of Taksin

The problem is, it is not being ignored by it's target audience. IF it were just some far left students trying on their professors Socialism 103 class arguments on for size with their fellow students, you are right, it likely wouldn't me bothered with. But this is clearly part of a concerted Red Faction effort to bring down central pillars of Thai society, that MOST of Thai society is behind 100%. Yes, as said above if ANYONE in Thailand was guilty of blatant LM it's this smiling fool.

Either way, he is under indictment and fund raising goal or not,

he is not allowed to leave the country.

Not much more can be said on his detention.

[newermonkey]

"We're fighting for the right to be human,"

He is obviously NOT HUMAN along with his master 666 Taksin both are what is known as "The Devil in incarnate" "The Devil in human form" "The epitome of evil" The smile has reveled to the world he IS NOT HUMAN be careful -a great evil is to soon come upon the world, an evil worse than the Nazi holocaust, an evil that few can even comprehend. this coming horror in the first of two raptures. Its started, Oh my god.

Edited May 1, 2011 by newermonkey

[DP25]

It's just lefty agitprop nonsense which is ignored - or at least tolerated - in most civilised democratic countries (ie excepting North Korea, China etc) just as is the reactionary cheerleading for repression which others are associated.

In the examples you give (actually pretty harmless anyway) there's actually nothing directly linking Somyos although as usual you have found him guilty in advance.

It's not nonsense that would be ignored in most countries. It includes threats against Supreme Court justices the week before they were to rule on the seizure of Thaksin's 76 billion Baht. The week before they were to rule, Voice of Thaksin published a long article about just political assassinations in world history, directly followed by pictures, full names, home addresses, and telephone numbers of every judge that was to rule on Thaksin's money. Most countries would not tolerate such a threat on their judiciary

[geriatrickid]

This LM law seems to be the catch all to go after any and all political "enemies" of the Abhisit regime.

This will serve to further polarize the factions and I would not be surprised to see civil unrest once again.

[jayboy]

It's about revolutionary context. And for the proposed extensions beyond them.

It's just lefty agitprop nonsense which is ignored - or at least tolerated - in most civilised democratic countries (ie excepting North Korea, China etc) just as is the reactionary cheerleading for repression which others are associated.

In the examples you give (actually pretty harmless anyway) there's actually nothing directly linking Somyos although as usual you have found him guilty in advance.

K. Somyos as editor / publisher can be directly linked and made responsable for the contents of the magazine he publishes.

As for the 'lefty agitprop nonsense which is ignored' you probably mean 'which should be ignored' even if it's published in the Voice of Taksin

The problem is, it is not being ignored by it's target audience. IF it were just some far left students trying on their professors Socialism 103 class arguments on for size with their fellow students, you are right, it likely wouldn't me bothered with. But this is clearly part of a concerted Red Faction effort to bring down central pillars of Thai society, that MOST of Thai society is behind 100%. Yes, as said above if ANYONE in Thailand was guilty of blatant LM it's this smiling fool.

Either way, he is under indictment and fund raising goal or not,

he is not allowed to leave the country.

Not much more can be said on his detention.

And in your reply you unwittingly destroy your own argument.You rightly say Thai society is 100% behind the central pillars.So why propagate and then implement laws (usually on ridiculously inadequate evidence) which undermine them? I should also point out that public discussion about reasonable reform, (specifically the need to end exploitation for political ends by opportunists such as Thaksin, Prayuth and even Abhisit) is not LM.

[whybother]

This LM law seems to be the catch all to go after any and all political "enemies" of the Abhisit regime.

This will serve to further polarize the factions and I would not be surprised to see civil unrest once again.

If the 'political "enemies" of the Abhisit regime' continue to talk about the monarchy, then they will continue to be arrested.

There will be civil unrest again when the PTP don't get into government, especially if they get the largest number (but not a majority) of MPs. They will make up whatever excuses that are convenient at the time.

[chuang]

"We're fighting for the right to be human,"

He is obviously NOT HUMAN along with his master 666 Taksin both are what is known as "The Devil in incarnate" "The Devil in human form" "The epitome of evil" The smile has reveled to the world he IS NOT HUMAN be careful -a great evil is to soon come upon the world, an evil worse than the Nazi holocaust, an evil that few can even comprehend. this coming horror in the first of two raptures. Its started, Oh my god.

Calling others names is the heaveist stone a SATAN can throw.....