BURNING ISSUE
A new reason to jail Thais for thought crime?
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

BANGKOK: -- THE AUTOCRATIC and patronising nature of the Yingluck Shinawatra administration surfaced for all to see last Tuesday (October 8) when the Cabinet approved in principle draft-legislation for the protection of so-called "intangible cultural heritage".

Besides the usual budget related matters, where provinces will be able to seek a subsidy from the Cultural Promotion Department for the protection of their intangible cultural heritage, the proposed bill's Article 40 seeks to punish people whose words or actions using intangible heritage are found "to offend the monarchy, religion, national security, as well as public order and morality".

Violators could face up to two years in prison and/or a fine up to Bt50,000.

There's also a catch in that those who exercise the law, if passed, also have the power to interpret what may constitute the intangible cultural heritage that needs to be protected.

This is a zany bill for a country claiming to be a democracy and while this government has refused to touch on the controversial and draconian lese majeste law, it's now seeking to create more reasons for jailing people for thought crime.

The government seems to not understand that forcing people to respect the culture of the monarchy will inevitably result in resentment, if not resistance, as already seen in the vibrant anti-lese-majeste-law movement.

Respect and appreciation, be it for religion, culture or monarchy cannot be forced. They must be earned. Forcing respect on something or someone is not respect but coercion.

What an open society needs is different and diverse interpretation of culture, religion, nation and the monarchy institution. To force everyone to think alike about these institutions will only turn our country into a big cage of like-minded people. And like-minded people can hardly be relied on to provide alternative |thinking.

Is this what the government wants for Thailand?

Quality education encourages students to think for themselves and to apply reasoning. Such a law will however encourage Thai citizens to stick to the approved interpretation of these intangible cultural assets. I don't see how it will make Thais smarter but I can recognise how it will make us dumber. If anything, Buddhism in Thailand, for example, needs to be subjected to greater scrutiny and criticism, not less. The same must be said of the positive-only view of nationalism and the monarchy institution.

There's no place for dictatorial law in a self-proclaimed democratic society. Anything that would further limit the already self-censored climate of Thai society on monarchy issues must be opposed. We don't need another law to make people fearful of what to say about national security or Buddhism - and such a law can be easily abused towards an autocratic end by the powers-that-be.

Last but not least, all of us concerned citizens should ask ourselves what will such a law, if passed, do to the Thai culture it claims to be protecting? I can't help but wonder if this is an attempt to preserve intangible autocratic culture. Perhaps the premier and her Cabinet think such culture is very Thai indeed and is in urgent need of being preserved at all cost.

Culture, intangible or tangible, cannot be frozen, for by freezing it you kill its very vibrancy. Forcing people to be respectful and say only good things about intangible Thai cultural assets will only succeed in creating tangible damage to the very fabric of Thai culture itself.


-- The Nation 2013-10-16

A step backwards towards old fashioned dictatorship. More brainwashing, more censorship, an increase in Lese Majeste punishment.

Thinking differently is considered a crime for the feudal Thai Chinese rich political society. I guess the visit of the Chinese PM has convinced his relative brothers in Thai politics to implement ABSOLUTE police controlled communism propaganda made in China

' " Intangible " culture', That which can not be perceived,realized or defined, except through the eyes of the PTP

i am not sure if this is a product of the arrogance of ignorance or the ignorance of arrogance. However, just another step in autocratic nature of this Government whose mandate will soon be "It is what we tell you it is". What is the point of education if the Government seeks control of even the intangible. !!.

This is actually rather shocking, and yes, they are apparently on the way towards dictatorship.

Well that kind of law could just about cover anything,they can

bend the law to say what ever they want,dangerous times in

Thailand,where you could get 2 years and a fine just for thinking.

and at a time when the local despot regime, Burma is freeing its

political prisoners.

Regards Worgeordie

It's somewhat ironic that in the last decade or so in Thailand the most personal freedom, fairest application of justice, and most "democratic" period was undoubtably under the Surayud govt which was a military dictatorship by definition. It's worth enjoying the last days of the internet and media that is still allowed to write critical arguments as sure as eggs are eggs they will both be imminently outlawed. The Thaksin dictatorship cannot survive if it's deeds are known to the public. Oh Isaanites, what have you done?

Thainess!

Say no more!

Where are the strong PTP and Thaksin supporters, now?

I would like to hear the explanation why this is good for Thailand and Democracy.

comparable with don't say "brown bag" in Seattle, as it is 'racist' and you'll be fined.

Ultimately, the general public is responsible to take a stand against these outrageous regulations, otherwise they'll be passed. You only get what you fight for.

Sad part is, the uninformed general public here will not notice all the legislation passed until its already too late.

...seeks to punish people whose words or actions using intangible heritage are found "to offend the monarchy, religion, national security, as well as public order and morality".

in·tan·gi·ble (n-tnj-bl)

adj.

1. Incapable of being perceived by the senses.

2. Incapable of being realized or defined.

3. Incorporeal.

Using the word "intangible" in a law related to vague institutional words such as religion, morality, etc., is just a law to further suppress open speech and democracy...it's geared to maintain very conservative thought and political power (i.e., don't rock any boats...go to work each day and be good little Thais).

Two steps to the rear and they're out of here.

comparable with don't say "brown bag" in Seattle, as it is 'racist' and you'll be fined.

Ultimately, the general public is responsible to take a stand against these outrageous regulations, otherwise they'll be passed. You only get what you fight for.

Sad part is, the uninformed general public here will not notice all the legislation passed until its already too late.

"brown bag" is racist?

comparable with don't say "brown bag" in Seattle, as it is 'racist' and you'll be fined.

Ultimately, the general public is responsible to take a stand against these outrageous regulations, otherwise they'll be passed. You only get what you fight for.

Sad part is, the uninformed general public here will not notice all the legislation passed until its already too late.

"brown bag" is racist?

Exactly...it was never even perceived as such, or ever used, according to anyone I ever talked to. Easy to see, these types of legislation are a soft way to see the reaction and effect when they implement steps to take away your freedoms.

nicely reasoned, logical and thoughtful piece of journalism by Kuhn Pravit. Bravo!

Where are the strong PTP and Thaksin supporters, now?

I would like to hear the explanation why this is good for Thailand and Democracy.

Well clearly it's not. But this is basically what the yellow shirts and democrats wanted as well.

Where are the strong PTP and Thaksin supporters, now?

I would like to hear the explanation why this is good for Thailand and Democracy.

Well clearly it's not. But this is basically what the yellow shirts and democrats wanted as well.

"But this is basically what the yellow shirts and democrats wanted as well.

What has the past to do with the future?

comparable with don't say "brown bag" in Seattle, as it is 'racist' and you'll be fined.

Ultimately, the general public is responsible to take a stand against these outrageous regulations, otherwise they'll be passed. You only get what you fight for.

Sad part is, the uninformed general public here will not notice all the legislation passed until its already too late.

"brown bag" is racist?

Exactly...it was never even perceived as such, or ever used, according to anyone I ever talked to. Easy to see, these types of legislation are a soft way to see the reaction and effect when they implement steps to take away your freedoms.

In German speaking countries we have to change names of dishes, that exist since centuries, because now they got racist.

Some spicy versions of food called "Gypsy Schnitzel" is now racist. But strangely the "Viennese Schnitzel" (or Frankfurter sausage or German sausage or Swedish Meatballs) are not.

Where are the strong PTP and Thaksin supporters, now?

I would like to hear the explanation why this is good for Thailand and Democracy.

Well clearly it's not. But this is basically what the yellow shirts and democrats wanted as well.

"But this is basically what the yellow shirts and democrats wanted as well.

What has the past to do with the future?

Must I really be forced to trot out the truism 'those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it'?

Where are the strong PTP and Thaksin supporters, now?

I would like to hear the explanation why this is good for Thailand and Democracy.

Well clearly it's not. But this is basically what the yellow shirts and democrats wanted as well.

"But this is basically what the yellow shirts and democrats wanted as well.

What has the past to do with the future?

I'm not defending PTP policies. Just stating that if the opposing party was in control today it would also suppress freedoms and introduce stricter laws exactly like this. Voting for the others only gets you more of the same.

PTP and Democrats only want power. Despite their names there is no political ideology behind these parties

Wife who has been moderately red all her life now says she wants a coup, and the sooner the better ! She, like many others who have been blinded by these Dictators for too long, is becoming a lot more savvy about what they are trying to do to the people of this country.

My own thoughts are that if this underlying dissent gathers pace in the coming decade this country is in line for a very big public uprising that is likely to reshape the future completely. The wheel always turns full circle.

Where are the strong PTP and Thaksin supporters, now?

I would like to hear the explanation why this is good for Thailand and Democracy.

Well clearly it's not. But this is basically what the yellow shirts and democrats wanted as well.

The Democrats did nothing like that, or anything similar when they were in power.

So can you explain why this is something the Democrats wanted as well?

How is this any different than a certain law that states: deemed to be offensive to..........

I always wondered who did the deeming (if that is a word)

Where are the strong PTP and Thaksin supporters, now?

I would like to hear the explanation why this is good for Thailand and Democracy.

Well clearly it's not. But this is basically what the yellow shirts and democrats wanted as well.

The Democrats did nothing like that, or anything similar when they were in power.

So can you explain why this is something the Democrats wanted as well?

Highest number of lest majeste cases in decades.

Does that ring a bell?

Wife who has been moderately red all her life now says she wants a coup, and the sooner the better ! She, like many others who have been blinded by these Dictators for too long, is becoming a lot more savvy about what they are trying to do to the people of this country.

My own thoughts are that if this underlying dissent gathers pace in the coming decade this country is in line for a very big public uprising that is likely to reshape the future completely. The wheel always turns full circle.

The Thai people have been bulleid by these politicians for generations.

The wheel will turn full circle even if it's a boxpok.

Where are the strong PTP and Thaksin supporters, now?

I would like to hear the explanation why this is good for Thailand and Democracy.

Well clearly it's not. But this is basically what the yellow shirts and democrats wanted as well.

"But this is basically what the yellow shirts and democrats wanted as well.

What has the past to do with the future?

I'm not defending PTP policies. Just stating that if the opposing party was in control today it would also suppress freedoms and introduce stricter laws exactly like this. Voting for the others only gets you more of the same.

PTP and Democrats only want power. Despite their names there is no political ideology behind these parties

I am no Democrat supporter, but the Democrats didn't make any laws like this. As well that big Internet control/censor thing was done by Thaksin and only the military dictators reduced it.

So Democrats didn't do something like that in the past. If they would do the same or not, no one can tell. I never heard them to agree but Abhisit was always for free press and free speech.

I am not saying that you are wrong. You might be right and they would do the same. But they didn't so I can't blame them. PTP did so they are to blame.

Where are the strong PTP and Thaksin supporters, now?

I would like to hear the explanation why this is good for Thailand and Democracy.

Well clearly it's not. But this is basically what the yellow shirts and democrats wanted as well.

The Democrats did nothing like that, or anything similar when they were in power.

So can you explain why this is something the Democrats wanted as well?

Highest number of lest majeste cases in decades.

Does that ring a bell?

No it doesn't.

Which bell should it ring? The Democrats didn't make any lese majeste law. The Democrats did sue in masses. The Democrats didn't try to control the courts.

It is more that the reds run amok during that time.

While I don't like the lese majeste law, several of these cases would be also at court in Germany, USA or any other western country.....

The only thing the Democrats were wrong, they didn't repair the law...they did nothing.

Where is the sour faced old puss Tida in all this?

This is what she supposedly vehemently opposed

Were her morals bought?

Which bell should it ring? The Democrats didn't make any lese majeste law. The Democrats did sue in masses. The Democrats didn't try to control the courts.

It is more that the reds run amok during that time.

While I don't like the lese majeste law, several of these cases would be also at court in Germany, USA or any other western country.....

Oh yeah I forgot about all those Lese Majeste cases that are happening at the courts all across the USA. I heard Texas is trying to make it punishable by death penalty.

Just governmental Buttheads who ate some Bad Meat ...

Which bell should it ring? The Democrats didn't make any lese majeste law. The Democrats did sue in masses. The Democrats didn't try to control the courts.

It is more that the reds run amok during that time.

While I don't like the lese majeste law, several of these cases would be also at court in Germany, USA or any other western country.....

Oh yeah I forgot about all those Lese Majeste cases that are happening at the courts all across the USA. I heard Texas is trying to make it punishable by death penalty.

Highest number of blocked internet- pages?

No?

Okay...angelic DEMS, devilish PTP!

Got it!