American Arrested In Thailand For Linking To A Website From His Blog

[harrry]

I see the alleged offence was a few years ago and the person lived in the US until recently. If as it seems he was in the US when he linked it does Thailand claim extrateritoriality for its laws.

[whybother]

I see the alleged offence was a few years ago and the person lived in the US until recently. If as it seems he was in the US when he linked it does Thailand claim extrateritoriality for its laws.

The law relates to insulting the monarchy. Location has nothing to do with it. ... except for being arrested of course. For that you need to be in Thailand.

[metisdead]

An inflammatory post has been removed.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Having respect is one thing. Not being able to discuss the issues is completely different.

what part of "this is the law in Thailand" is it you don't understand?

What kind of question is that, Naam? Given that this law is the very topic that we are discussing? We are discussing the merits of this particular law, in Thailand.

"the law is the law" makes perfect sense as a debating position when the assumption among all is that this is a country with fair and just laws. When however you find yourself in South Africa in the 1980's, or Burma right now, or Thailand right now, it becomes a lot harder to argue in favor of laws that are fundamentally contradicting commonly accepted human rights.

Edited May 28, 2011 by WinnieTheKhwai

[harrry]

I see the alleged offence was a few years ago and the person lived in the US until recently. If as it seems he was in the US when he linked it does Thailand claim extrateritoriality for its laws.

The law relates to insulting the monarchy. Location has nothing to do with it. ... except for being arrested of course. For that you need to be in Thailand.

I wonder when they will arrest someone from Amazon Books then.

[Nisa]

I see the alleged offence was a few years ago and the person lived in the US until recently. If as it seems he was in the US when he linked it does Thailand claim extrateritoriality for its laws.

The law relates to insulting the monarchy. Location has nothing to do with it. ... except for being arrested of course. For that you need to be in Thailand.

Also, after reading other accounts it looks like he has had the blog since 07 and it is not necessarily true the offense(s) were committed then. Other news accounts also indicated it is more than simply posting a link. . But I also see now that it seems apparent he is connected with the Red Shirts and suspect this charge is, at least partially, politically motivated.

From a technical point of law, it really doesn't matter when or where he made the initial posting as he controls the website and as long as it still appears on the site, he continues to violate the law. They also confiscated all his computer gear he has set up in Issan as well as his cell phone. So, no doubt they are investigating his current possible political and/or subversive activities ... not to mention this is just one of a number of charges against him.

According to news accounts, this guy spent 30-years in the US and just returned to Thailand last year. He appears to have already got connected well with the Reds since they are not only out protesting his arrest but also put together a significant amount of money/land to offer up for bail.

Edited May 28, 2011 by Nisa

[SteeleJoe]

He appears to have already got connected well with the Reds

Already? No reason at all to assume one must be in Thailand for such a thing.

[Buchholz]

Also, after reading other accounts it looks like he has had the blog since 07 and it is not necessarily true the offense(s) were committed then. Other news accounts also indicated it is more than simply posting a link. . But I also see now that it seems apparent he is connected with the Red Shirts and suspect this charge is, at least partially, politically motivated.

According to news accounts, this guy spent 30-years in the US and just returned to Thailand last year. He appears to have already got connected well with the Reds since they are not only out protesting his arrest but also put together a significant amount of money/land to offer up for bail.

Could you share the source of this additional news? I've not seen these points in the latest news articles on the topic.

[philw]

I certainly agree that it's a well researched academic text and rarely resorts to mere rumour, but it still must be the most infamous book on its subject around. Prem, in an interview with Far Eastern Economic Review, once said: "I don't like it. The nation doesn't like it. It's a hearsay book and is not based on fact. We are worried [about] the foreigners who read it. My suggestion is please ignore that book. It's useless."

I doubt it'd make a difference to what he says about it, but it would be interesting to know whether Prem actually read it.

You are right. It doesn't matter what Prem thinks about it. In fact it will soon not matter what Prem thinks about anything but the remark was revealing for the insight it provides into the myopic elite mentality. The old boy deserves peace and quiet now for his past services, but history will judge him very harshly. Classic example of a man of charisma and influence who could have been a great reformer, but ended up undermining the institutions he was most attached to.

perfectly correct.

[Jim walker]

You are absoluteyl 100% forbidden from buying me a case of malt whisky - Islay malts are my preferred choice of 'forbidden drinks'.

As long as its not Laphroaig I prefer a wee dram o 21 y/o Jura or a wee drop o Ardbeg sounds good to me

[whybother]

I see the alleged offence was a few years ago and the person lived in the US until recently. If as it seems he was in the US when he linked it does Thailand claim extrateritoriality for its laws.

The law relates to insulting the monarchy. Location has nothing to do with it. ... except for being arrested of course. For that you need to be in Thailand.

I wonder when they will arrest someone from Amazon Books then.

When someone from Amazon Books writes something insulting about the monarchy and happens to come to Thailand.

[dunkin2012]

I certainly agree that it's a well researched academic text and rarely resorts to mere rumour, but it still must be the most infamous book on its subject around. Prem, in an interview with Far Eastern Economic Review, once said: "I don't like it. The nation doesn't like it. It's a hearsay book and is not based on fact. We are worried [about] the foreigners who read it. My suggestion is please ignore that book. It's useless."

I doubt it'd make a difference to what he says about it, but it would be interesting to know whether Prem actually read it.

You are right. It doesn't matter what Prem thinks about it. In fact it will soon not matter what Prem thinks about anything but the remark was revealing for the insight it provides into the myopic elite mentality. The old boy deserves peace and quiet now for his past services, but history will judge him very harshly. Classic example of a man of charisma and influence who could have been a great reformer, but ended up undermining the institutions he was most attached to.

perfectly correct.

and perfectly ... you know it's really worth have the BiB to work hard while the southern part "still civilians get killed everyday".....

This country!........carry on then

[samurai]

I see the alleged offence was a few years ago and the person lived in the US until recently. If as it seems he was in the US when he linked it does Thailand claim extrateritoriality for its laws.

The law relates to insulting the monarchy. Location has nothing to do with it. ... except for being arrested of course. For that you need to be in Thailand.

I wonder when they will arrest someone from Amazon Books then.

When someone from Amazon Books writes something insulting about the monarchy and happens to come to Thailand.

Distribute a book that insults the monarchy would be enough for an arrest.

[Nisa]

Also, after reading other accounts it looks like he has had the blog since 07 and it is not necessarily true the offense(s) were committed then. Other news accounts also indicated it is more than simply posting a link. . But I also see now that it seems apparent he is connected with the Red Shirts and suspect this charge is, at least partially, politically motivated.

According to news accounts, this guy spent 30-years in the US and just returned to Thailand last year. He appears to have already got connected well with the Reds since they are not only out protesting his arrest but also put together a significant amount of money/land to offer up for bail.

Could you share the source of this additional news? I've not seen these points in the latest news articles on the topic.

Do a Google News search

One incorrect thing I said is that people were protesting. There is one article at http://www.voanews.com that starts with a picture of protesters but I see now from the caption of the picture that it was actually taken a few weeks ago in regards to the case against Somsak Jeamteerasakul (54) and not Lerpong Wichaikhammat, 54.

As for the correlation between this guy and the Reds shirts I should have worded that better as no news account specifically says this but it appears obvious given the available facts. he grew up in Issan, left for 30-years to live in the USA, his family still lives in Isan where he has lived the last year, after his wife died in the US, to deal with medical issues. Within 2-days of his arrest, "friends" in Issan tried to offer 1.7 million baht for his bail. Though not all, there are a number of Reds who are against the Monarchy and/or believe Thaksin should be ultimate ruler of Thailand. In addition, the Red opposition uses this law (often unfairly but definitely overzealously) against Reds and their sympathizers. Given the fact he was based in Issan is enough to logically connect him with Reds but given the other things, I would have no problem making a large wager this is where his sympathies lie and that his blog likely contained Red propaganda.

In one news article you will find online, it states in addition to the link ...

The man is also suspected of translating, from English into Thai, portions of <snip> – an unauthorized biography <snip> – and posting them online along with articles he wrote that allegedly defame the royal family, said Tharit Pengdith, who heads the Department of Special Investigation, Thailand's equivalent of the FBI

Tharit said the man was arrested Tuesday and is facing charges that include inciting public unrest and violating Thailand's Computer Crimes Act. Gordon appeared before a Thai court Thursday, which denied him bail.

The news is very sketchy on this now and even the US State Department / Embassy has stated they don't have all the facts but the original story was broke at http://www.prachatai3.info/english/

What I find interesting is not one source (Times, NY Times, Washington Post, Huffington Postt, BBC ....) I have come across has yet to provide a link to his blog. Even if it has been taken down you can still view it easily using archive resources on the net.

Edited May 28, 2011 by Nisa

[geriatrickid]

Answer 2: LM cannot be prosecuted unless a the prosecutors office agrees to prosecute. The search warrant could not be executed on the accused's dwelling unless a judge signed off on the warrant. Anyone can bring a LM charge in Thailand, however the police have to make a decision as to whether or not the charge warrants an investigation. An investigation for LM in Thailand, particularly one that requires due diligence requires the signoff of the prosecutors office. In this case, this was not a random LM offense such as demonstrated by the idiot that defaced a public portrait. Rather, this was an investigation of a website and blog. The DSI sent 20 agents from Bangkok to go get the man and search his home and then bring him back to bangkok. Do you honestly believe that the police could mount such a large and expensive operation without the signoff from a government official?

They do so all the time. You also fail to note that in Thailand, such warrants do not require "signing off by a judge." This isn't Canada. Police can and do launch investigations and continue them to the point that has transpired to this point in this case without involving the Attorney-General's office.

Please refer to ประมวลกฎหมายวิธีพิจารณาความอาญาไทย (Code of Criminal Procedure of Thailand), specifically chapter 2 which details the procedures for a warrant.

Paragraph 57: An arrest, detention or imprisonment of a person as well as a search for a person or article in a private place may only be conducted upon a judicial order or warrant thereof, subject to the provisions of sections 78, 79, 80, 82 and 94 of the present Code.

Paragraph 60, part 6: A warrant of arrest, search, detention, imprisonment or release shall be made in writing and shall contain the following items:

(6) The signature of the judge and the seal of the court.

What part of part 6 do you not understand? The police required a warrant. How can you make the definitive statement that warrants do not require the signining off of a judge? Look at what the law is.

I don't understand your refence to Canada. I made no reference to the Attorney General's office. The fact of the matter is that this was a full scale investigation that involved the dispatch of a large contingent of personnel from Bangkok, the search of the accused's residence and the seizure of his property.

[Nisa]

The law relates to insulting the monarchy. Location has nothing to do with it. ... except for being arrested of course. For that you need to be in Thailand.

I wonder when they will arrest someone from Amazon Books then.

When someone from Amazon Books writes something insulting about the monarchy and happens to come to Thailand.

Distribute a book that insults the monarchy would be enough for an arrest.

Thailand has no jurisdiction over what somebody does in another country unless the material is sent into Thailand. No different in the US in terms of books/magazines or Videos. Some states/locations have different laws pertaining to what is pornography. An adult company based in California cannot be charged with violating Alabama's anti-pornography laws unless it ships that material to Alabama.

Using the internet to distribute material is a different matter and image the laws are a little more complicated. But this person is also being charged with other offences too including some related to national security. Threatening the security of a nation really doesn't have any boundaries but the only issue you have to deal with is jurisdiction which becomes mute when you enter the country that believes you have threatened.

Edited May 28, 2011 by Nisa

[fma]

I propose that Thai Visa prohibits all and any discussion of the LM laws, whether or not the discussion focuses on the Royal Family. That way nobody gets into trouble, and Thailand is firmly established as a country without the rights to free speech. TV together with the Nation might want to give the impression that Thailand is aspiring to be a modern country, but all indications point towards extended censorship.

PS: While abroad I read the first few chapters of the book in question - it is full of details and seems to be well researched. I have no idea why it is prohibited though, but then I am not an oversensitive Thai.

Edited May 28, 2011 by fma

[TAWP]

Thailand has no jurisdiction over what somebody does in another country unless the material is sent into Thailand. No different in the US in terms of books/magazines or Videos. Some states/locations have different laws pertaining to what is pornography. An adult company based in California cannot be charged with violating Alabama's anti-pornography laws unless it ships that material to Alabama.

Using the internet to distribute material is a different matter and image the laws are a little more complicated. But this person is also being charged with other offences too including some related to national security. Threatening the security of a nation really doesn't have any boundaries but the only issue you have to deal with is jurisdiction which becomes mute when you enter the country that believes you have threatened.

An insult cannot be 'shipped' as it is not a physical product. And Thai law do claim global reach in protection of the TRF and ALL other foreign dignitaries as well.

[samurai]

I wonder when they will arrest someone from Amazon Books then.

When someone from Amazon Books writes something insulting about the monarchy and happens to come to Thailand.

Distribute a book that insults the monarchy would be enough for an arrest.

Thailand has no jurisdiction over what somebody does in another country unless the material is sent into Thailand. No different in the US in terms of books/magazines or Videos. Some states/locations have different laws pertaining to what is pornography. An adult company based in California cannot be charged with violating Alabama's anti-pornography laws unless it ships that material to Alabama.

Using the internet to distribute material is a different matter and image the laws are a little more complicated. But this person is also being charged with other offences too including some related to national security. Threatening the security of a nation really doesn't have any boundaries but the only issue you have to deal with is jurisdiction which becomes mute when you enter the country that believes you have threatened.

Insulting the monarchy = threatening the security of the nation

[Nisa]

Thailand has no jurisdiction over what somebody does in another country unless the material is sent into Thailand. No different in the US in terms of books/magazines or Videos. Some states/locations have different laws pertaining to what is pornography. An adult company based in California cannot be charged with violating Alabama's anti-pornography laws unless it ships that material to Alabama.

Using the internet to distribute material is a different matter and image the laws are a little more complicated. But this person is also being charged with other offences too including some related to national security. Threatening the security of a nation really doesn't have any boundaries but the only issue you have to deal with is jurisdiction which becomes mute when you enter the country that believes you have threatened.

An insult cannot be 'shipped' as it is not a physical product. And Thai law do claim global reach in protection of the TRF and ALL other foreign dignitaries as well.

You are incorrect. First of all we are talking about written comments that certainly can be shipped or transmitted within Thailand. Second of all, Thailand has no criminal jurisdiction to pursue laws of non-Thais in other countries where the violation of the law doesn't cross into Thai boundaries. On the other hand, all nations have the right to develop laws to apply to their citizens even when outside the jurisdiction of their country. As for acts that involve national security threats by individuals against another country then this would be the same as a criminal act that crosses into Thai jurisdiction.

The US has laws to protecting the president the president including making statements that can be construed as a threat. You can be dam_n sure that any non-US citizen making such statements, regardless of where, will be detained in the US should they ever come to the US. This of course involves national security.

[Nisa]

Insulting the monarchy = threatening the security of the nation

certainly can be but we don't have all the facts on this case yet to know what this guy was posting.

[Buchholz]

As for the correlation between this guy and the Reds shirts I should have worded that better as no news account specifically says this

Good grief. So there is NO news that he's connected with the Red Shirts. It is completely your own speculation.

There's over 20 million Thais living in Issan. Not all of them are Red Shirts.

Within 2-days of his arrest, "friends" in Issan tried to offer 1.7 million baht for his bail.

Now where is this sourced from? None of the articles, including the VOA news, is reporting this.

Given the fact he was based in Issan is enough to logically connect him with Reds

It most certainly is NOT enough.

I would respectfully submit that prior to your citing "news accounts", that you actually include the links that any of these are purportedly coming from or clearly state that it is only your own opinion.

Thank you.

The news is very sketchy on this now

It's not helped by purporting your own speculation as "news".

[Nisa]

I propose that Thai Visa prohibits all and any discussion of the LM laws, whether or not the discussion focuses on the Royal Family. That way nobody gets into trouble, and Thailand is firmly established as a country without the rights to free speech. TV together with the Nation might want to give the impression that Thailand is aspiring to be a modern country, but all indications point towards extended censorship.

PS: While abroad I read the first few chapters of the book in question - it is full of details and seems to be well researched. I have no idea why it is prohibited though, but then I am not an oversensitive Thai.

I think at least partly because it was an unauthorized biography that does include "some" salacious gossip and because it was a westerner applying his views on how things should be in a democracy without much insight into truly understanding the Thai people, beliefs and culture. Not to mention that the timing of this book comes at the worst time in Thai history in terms of these types of things.

Obviously Thailand is a developing nation and is not going to be on the level of a first world nations (good or bad) but even in the US public schools are not going to use other country's American History books to teach kids the "true" history of America. No, the "truth" is going to come from an American version of history. It sometimes is a very passionate debate about how and what historical facts will be taught to kids but now consider the sensitivity, passion and national devotion there is in Thailand on such subjects as well as the current happenings within Thailand.

[Nisa]

"

As for the correlation between this guy and the Reds shirts I should have worded that better as no news account specifically says this

"

Good grief. So there is NO news that he's connected with the Red Shirts. It is completely your own speculation.

There's over 20 million Thais living in Issan. Not all of them are Red Shirts.

"

Within 2-days of his arrest, "friends" in Issan tried to offer 1.7 million baht for his bail.

"

Now where is this sourced from? None of the articles, including the VOA news, is reporting this.

"

Given the fact he was based in Issan is enough to logically connect him with Reds

"

It most certainly is NOT enough.

I would respectfully submit that prior to your citing "news accounts", that you actually include the links that any of these are purportedly coming from or clearly state that it is only your own opinion.

Thank you.

"The news is very sketchy on this now"

It's not helped by purporting your own speculation as "news".

I can see why you need to take so many of my partial statements to attempt to discredit me .. as well as make it very difficult to respond since you used the maximum number of quotes which preventing anybody from you responding to your criticizing without removing the quote tags as you should have done when cutting up so much of my post.

1) I NEVER said there was a report of him being a red but simply was trying to make sure nobody got that impression .. especially those who are reading quickly or have English reading comprehension issues. I also didn't indicate that all Issan people are reds but then again all Issan people are not doing what this guy is accused of. Was it that troubling for you to see me clarify this after my original post that NEVER said he was reported as a red?

2) ) I would suggest in the future you refrain from stating untruths (None of the articles, including the VOA news, is reporting this) simply because you are unaware of a news article ... especially when the main URL was presented to you, in my post you chopped up, and you simply didn't go there and read the article. Here is is again ... http://www.prachatai3.info/english

His friends brought a land title deed worth over 1.7 million baht to place as a bail guarantee, but, in response to objections from the DSI, the court denied bail, citing that this was a serious case concerning national security, and that the accused might tamper with evidence.

3) A partial sentence you are quoting taken out of context which CLEARLY was expressing my opinion that this person (accused of LM, grew up in Issan, family in Issan ...) has red ties. Please let me know if you think he doesn't. This way when the news becomes more clear we can see whose opinion is right.

4) Now your coming at me because I was basically saying all the facts are not in yet??? I have offered opinions which to any reasonable person are seen as opinions and which are stated as opinions?!?!? I even went so far as reposting a clarification (see #1) to make sure there was no doubt it was opinion.

Edited May 28, 2011 by Nisa

[Buchholz]

I can see why you need to take so many of my partial statements to attempt to discredit me

My reply earlier was not made to discredit you, only to clarify what exactly was in the actual news and what was your own speculation.

When you run them together, it's difficult to tell which is which.

eg. Your post:

Other news accounts also indicated it is more than simply posting a link. . But I also see now that it seems apparent he is connected with the Red Shirts

and also:

According to news accounts, this guy spent 30-years in the US and just returned to Thailand last year. He appears to have already got connected well with the Reds

I hope you can appreciate that when others read these statements, it would seem that news articles are saying all of the above, when, in reality they are not.

1) I NEVER said there was a report of him being a red but simply was trying to make sure nobody got that impression

Again, can you see how your wording, it would be easy to construe what you were saying as coming from news reports. If you are going to mix actual news with your own speculation, PLEASE separate them much more clearly. Also, as far the impression you trying to make, it would seem that the exact opposite would be the result.

I also didn't indicate that all Issan people are reds

But the basis for your connection with him and the Red Shirts was premised on his connection to Issan... as if simply from being from Issan was rationale enough to make the connection between him and the Red Shirts.

eg. Your post:

As for the correlation between this guy and the Reds shirts I should have worded that better as no news account specifically says this but it appears obvious given the available facts. he grew up in Issan, left for 30-years to live in the USA, his family still lives in Isan where he has lived the last year,

2) ) I would suggest in the future you refrain from stating untruths (None of the articles, including the VOA news, is reporting this) simply because you are unaware of a news article ... especially when the main URL was presented to you, in my post you chopped up, and you simply didn't go there and read the article. Here is is again ... http://www.prachatai3.info/english

Do you realize that rather than giving the main website, it is far easier for readers if you link the specific web page for the specific article you are referring to? There are at 6 articles on the main website dealing with this subject. You also first listed google news and voa news as references. Checking all the articles on those sites turned up no reference. I agree I should not have said none, but instead, none of the 16 different articles I read from the links you shared contained the information you were saying.

For future reference, if you are going to cite a news source, list the specific webpage for the specific article.

I've saved the readers on the forum the trouble this time after I found the 1 article out of the 6 on prachatai that discusses the bail issue:

http://www.prachatai3.info/english/node/2551

[Nisa]

[Buchholz]

If you don't understand, don't worry. Everyone else does.

[SteeleJoe]

While abroad I read the first few chapters of the book in question - it is full of details and seems to be well researched. I have no idea why it is prohibited though, but then I am not an oversensitive Thai.

I think at least partly because it was an unauthorized biography that does include "some" salacious gossip and because it was a westerner applying his views on how things should be in a democracy without much insight into truly understanding the Thai people, beliefs and culture. Not to mention that the timing of this book comes at the worst time in Thai history in terms of these types of things.

Obviously Thailand is a developing nation and is not going to be on the level of a first world nations (good or bad) but even in the US public schools are not going to use other country's American History books to teach kids the "true" history of America. No, the "truth" is going to come from an American version of history. It sometimes is a very passionate debate about how and what historical facts will be taught to kids but now consider the sensitivity, passion and national devotion there is in Thailand on such subjects as well as the current happenings within Thailand.

With all due respect, in the first paragraph above it is clear you simply don't know what you are talking about. Unfortunately, once again, I can't address your inaccuracies. (of course even the things I do address, you choose to ignore).

As for the second: no one has suggested that this book be used to teach Thai kids Thai history in public schools.

Absurd straw man.

Moreover, in the US, books, articles etc on US history are not banned and nor can one can be arrested for disseminating any, regardless of whether they contradict the version of truth being taught in schools. And certainly nothing that has been as well researched and vetted as the book in question (and published by a department of one of the world's finest universities) would be regarded as this book is here or against the law to sell.

Ridiculous comparison.

And your post about the blogger? Buchholz was right: you play very fast and loose with weakly supported speculation mixed up in the facts and do a poor job of distinguishing the two.

EDIT for Typos

Edited May 29, 2011 by SteeleJoe

[ajarnmark]

forbidding something just gives me more urges to do it ...

wanna dare to be critical of holocaust?

[Nisa]

While abroad I read the first few chapters of the book in question - it is full of details and seems to be well researched. I have no idea why it is prohibited though, but then I am not an oversensitive Thai.

I think at least partly because it was an unauthorized biography that does include "some" salacious gossip and because it was a westerner applying his views on how things should be in a democracy without much insight into truly understanding the Thai people, beliefs and culture. Not to mention that the timing of this book comes at the worst time in Thai history in terms of these types of things.

Obviously Thailand is a developing nation and is not going to be on the level of a first world nations (good or bad) but even in the US public schools are not going to use other country's American History books to teach kids the "true" history of America. No, the "truth" is going to come from an American version of history. It sometimes is a very passionate debate about how and what historical facts will be taught to kids but now consider the sensitivity, passion and national devotion there is in Thailand on such subjects as well as the current happenings within Thailand.

With all due respect, in the first paragraph above it is clear you simply don't know what you are talking about. Unfortunately, once again, I can't address your inaccuracies. (of course even the things I do address, you choose to ignore).

As for the second: no one has suggested that this book be used to teach Thai kids Thai history in public schools.

Absurd straw man.

Moreover, in the US, books, articles etc on US history are not banned and nor can one can be arrested for disseminating any, regardless of whether they contradict the version of truth being taught in schools. And certainly nothing that has been as well researched and vetted as the book in question (and published by a department of one of the world's finest universities) would be regarded as this book is here or against the law to sell.

Ridiculous comparison.

And your post about the blogger? Buchholz was right: you play very fast and loose with weakly supported speculation mixed up in the facts and do a poor job of distinguishing the two.

EDIT for Typos

Are you saying the book isn't an unauthorized biography?

Are you saying it wasn't written by a westerner with western views?

Are you saying the book doesn't contain some "some" salacious gossip?

Are you saying that that charges of LM have not gone up HUGELY in the last 5 years?

Responding intelligently to any of these questions should not put you in jeopardy of the LM. Keep in mind the first words in the paragraph indicates these are "partially" the reason and clearly state they are my opinion.

As for the comparison you claimed I made -- it was CLEARLY an example of discussing national pride and slanted views or omissions that occur in all countries as well as the difference between the US and Thailand. I never came remotely close to saying it was the same and I really didn't believe TV readers need to be reminded that the laws in the US and Thailand (and other places) are different ... I really thought this to be common knowledge to all. What was similarity of national pride and how Thais take it to a different level on this subject.

It seems clear to me, based on your comments, you think the books is good and seems to be your motivation for going after my post but what I don't get is how a logical person can believe I made any judgement against the book. It is fact the book contains 'some" gossip as I stated but I never said it was presented as fact. A good writer wanting to cover a subject thoroughly often times includes rumor and speculation as long as they make it clear that is what it is.

I'm not sure why you felt a need to try to interpret or put different meanings into my post since what I said was what I meant and there was nothing deeper to it.

Edited May 29, 2011 by Nisa