Police Detain Sondhi

[george]

BREAKING NEWS

Police detain Sondhi

BANGKOK: -- Police have arrested Manager newspaper publisher Sondhi Limthongkul, the leader of anti-Thaksin protests, and detained him at headquarters.

Mr Sondhi had previously refused to report to police for interrogation on possible charges of lese majeste in a speech he made to an anti-Thaksin rally last month.

- Bangkok Post 2006-04-28

[Losangels]

Not a good sign. Was he able to post bail?

[ColPyat]

BREAKING NEWS

Police detain Sondhi

BANGKOK: -- Police have arrested Manager newspaper publisher Sondhi Limthongkul, the leader of anti-Thaksin protests, and detained him at headquarters.

Mr Sondhi had previously refused to report to police for interrogation on possible charges of lese majeste in a speech he made to an anti-Thaksin rally last month.

- Bangkok Post 2006-04-28

Which was to be expected.

I hope that won't draw any further demonstrations.

[LaoPo]

The Thailand Soap continues

LaoPo

[xyz]

lese majeste -- I don't believe there's a law like that in USA or UK -- at least not during peace time.

[LaoPo]

lese majeste -- I don't believe there's a law like that in USA or UK -- at least not during peace time.

For those who are not familiar with the expression (origin: Latin) , it's interesting to read this:

Lese majesty, leze majesty, or lèse majesté (from the Latin Laesa maiestatis, injury to the Majesty) is the crime of violating majesty, an offense against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or against a state.

ATTENTION!:

Few countries still prosecute lese majesty. One exception is Thailand, where social activists like Sulak Sivaraksa were charged with the crime in the 1980s and '90s because they allegedly criticized the king, although the King in his 2005 birthday speech said he would not take lese majesty charges seriously any more. Several high profile cases were dropped. Brunei is also another country with near absolute monarchy, which will still prosecute lese majesty.

source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lese_majesty

and

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Sondhi_may_fac...%A9_allegations

LaoPo

Edited April 28, 2006 by LaoPo

[ColPyat]

lese majeste -- I don't believe there's a law like that in USA or UK -- at least not during peace time.

In the USA there hardly will be such a law possible.

Or did i miss something?

Did Bush finally crown himself King?

[george]

BANGKOK: -- An arrest warrant has been issued for the leader of the protests that forced Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to step down, a judge said Friday.

Media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul has been accused of insulting the king at an anti-Thaksin rally last month, a charge punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Sondhi's lawyer Suwat Apaipak said his client would surrender to police later Friday.

Police were forced to seek court approval for the warrant after Sondhi repeatedly failed to comply with a subpoena to appear before them for questioning. He last failed to appear on Tuesday.

His lawyer had asked police to postpone his appearance until May 17, saying Sondhi, a one-time Thaksin ally who has since become his most vocal critic, was busy organizing rallies outside of Bangkok.

But a criminal court judge ruled Friday this was "unreasonable".

"This does not happen every day and the suspect is not the only speaker. So if he really wanted to meet with police he could have done so," judge Amnuay Chantra said.

"So the excuse is unreasonable and is not a serious one," he said.

Sondhi and four other protest leaders face separate charges of trying to overthrow democracy. All five have been ordered to appear before police on those charges.

Sondhi led months of protests against Thaksin which forced him to step aside on April 4, despite his party's victory in snap polls two days earlier.

--AFP 2006-04-28

[xyz]

lese majeste -- I don't believe there's a law like that in USA or UK -- at least not during peace time.

In the USA there hardly will be such a law possible.

Or did i miss something?

Did Bush finally crown himself King?

Yea, you did miss something (think before you post...well, in your case...): violating majesty is an offense against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or against a state.

So, it's applicable to a state as well as a reigning sovereign.

During times of war, even in places like USA, some civil liberties are lost. The closest thing to majesty in USA that comes to mind is treason during war time.

Edited April 28, 2006 by xyz

[LaoPo]

BREAKING NEWS

Police detain Sondhi

- Bangkok Post 2006-04-28

I'm really, very, very puzzled about this move...

What could possibly be positive about this detain of Sondhi when one sees that the Judges of the 3 TOP-courts, including the Supreme Court, are puzzling HOW to come out of the extremely difficult position the Thai democracy is in, right now.

IMHO it even puts more pressure onto the Judges, trying to make an 'escape' out of the situation...

I wouldn't want to be in their shoes!

LaoPo

[george]

Sondhi surrenders

Bail 300,000 Baht

BANGKOK: -- Sondhi Limthongkul, a decision maker of the People's Alliance for Democracy, Friday surrendered to answer charges of insulting His Majesty.

He turned himself to investigators at the Crime Suppression Division at 3 pm.

After being interrogated by police, Sondhi submitted assets worth Bt300,000 to seek a his release on bail.

--The Nation 2006-04-28

[rainman]

i assume this isn't going to raise the USD....................

[marshbags]

lese majeste -- I don't believe there's a law like that in USA or UK -- at least not during peace time.

................................................................................

......................................

If this law was enforced in the u.k. the jails would be full of us U.K. citizens.

Not even foreigners are arrested for this unless there is something else involved / linked to it, i.e. terrorism ect.

Regarding arresting Sondhi. What a farce and yet another double / double standard.

There is for sure a hidden agenda to prevent a re run of the elections and discredit what has been achieved via violence i suspect.

There is nothing at all to gain from pursuing this in this manner and at this sensitive time especially.

Kamoy Thaksin and his cronies where the cause of all that has happened since the unrest / elections started and yet ...................................................................

They are now talking about him being eligible to re run as P.M. and head of the TRT just like before.

Does no one get it in that party.

He is yet to answer charges of a mutitude and until he is cleared he is not going to be allowed by the Thai people who demonstrated, to regain his integrity.

To re itterate, it is a farce arresting Sondhi and it is nothing more than yet another tactic politically to take him out of action and undermine decent people from being peaceful.

Let them concentrate on the present situation and the more important needs of the country, do they have any grey matter or is it all sawdust in there.

The election WILL be retaken that,s for sure, but NOT in the form that allows the Kamoy to regain his possition and all the implications that go with it.

Otherwise that really would undermine all the efforts to have a fair and democratic constitution that all this protesting ect. was about in the first place.

In my humble opinion.

marshbags

Edited April 28, 2006 by marshbags

[britmaveric]

Interesting - well obvious Sondhi a marked man.

[Thaising]

The hatred is too deep; Sondhi knew pretty well he was being the first target.

[Wolfie]

They are now talking about him being eligible to re run as P.M. and head of the TRT just like before.

interesting information... your sources are???

[marshbags]

They are now talking about him being eligible to re run as P.M. and head of the TRT just like before.

interesting information... your sources are???

Happy to oblige Wolfie.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/28...es_30002748.php

The full article reads as follows:-

Thaksin could be back soon

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra might try to stage a comeback sooner than expected if another general election is called, his admirers and detractors said yesterday.

Thai Rak Thai deputy spokesman Jatuporn Promphan said if the courts nullify the April 2 election and announce a fresh poll, Thaksin should quit his break from politics. On April 4, Thaksin went on air to say he would decline another term as prime minister, but would stay on in name only until the House convenes and chooses his replacement.

Chaiyan Chaiyaporn, a political science lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said the changing circumstances opened the way for Thaksin to throw his weight around again.

Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, a Thammasat University lecturer, said Thaksin should not try to take advantage of the current political situation.

Thaksin's arrival now on the political scene would throw the country into another crisis, but he might emerge again if politics has been reformed, he said.

A Thai Rak Thai source insisted Thaksin was needed back for because the party had to campaign with him as prime minister. "Only Thaksin can help Thai Rak Thai win the election," the source said.

Suriyasai Katasila, a spokesman for the People's Alliance for Democracy, said the conditions under which Thaksin had made his announcement had changed. The caretaker prime minister could come back.

However, it wouldn't be beautiful if he comes back before the completion of political reform, Suriyasai said. If he came back at this time, the PAD wouldn't be able to accept it and would demonstrate to get rid of him.

Sucheera Pinijparakarn,

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

The Nation

................................................................................

................................................................................

..........................

It is also being debated on Thai T.V. in this context

Unbelievable !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What an insult to Thai people and their intelligence, they are no longer in the last century, are they ?

marshbags

Edited April 28, 2006 by marshbags

[ando]

Yea, you did miss something (think before you post...well, in your case...): violating majesty is an offense against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or against a state.

During times of war, even in places like USA, some civil liberties are lost. The closest thing to majesty in USA that comes to mind is treason during war time.

No comment required.

[wolf5370]

The closest thing to majesty in USA that comes to mind is treason during war time.

Patriot Act? People were arrested for having the ghoul to speak out against Bush and the war.

[britmaveric]

Threats against the yank president will get you arrested - I think anything else is game if I'm not mistaken.

[george]

Thaksin's arch critic surrenders to face lese majeste charge

BANGKOK: -- Media mogul and government arch critic Sondhi Limthongkul surrendered to officers of the law at the Police Crime Suppression Division to face lese majeste charges, shortly after the court had issued an arrest warrant for him.

Mr. Sondhi, who played a leading role in the anti-Thaksin movement, surrendered to the Crime Suppression Division police after he had earlier failed to show up for police questioning over the lese majeste charges.

Accompanied by a lawyer, Mr. Sondhi said he had not contemplated any escape as earlier speculated.

The criminal offense is punishable by up to three years in prison. Police sought court approval after the media mogul failed to show up in response to a police summons.

The judge in the criminal court rejected his lawyer's request to postpone his appearance until May 17, ruling that it was unreasonable.

Sondhi is one of four leaders in the People's Alliance for Democracy, the coalition of groups campaigning for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's resignation. The months-long rallies forced the premier to step aside on April 4 despite his ruling Thai Rak Thai Party winning the general elections two days earlier.

--TNA 2006-04-28

[Bryan in Isaan]

They are now talking about him being eligible to re run as P.M. and head of the TRT just like before.

interesting information... your sources are???

Eligible??

At the risk of going off topic, when was he ever ineligible? He left voluntarily - under pressure, of course - and he can come back voluntarily. Did the PAD write a law that he could not?

[Johpa]

ATTENTION!:

Few countries still prosecute lese majesty. One exception is Thailand, where social activists like Sulak Sivaraksa were charged with the crime in the 1980s and '90s because they allegedly criticized the king, although the King in his 2005 birthday speech said he would not take lese majesty charges seriously any more. Several high profile cases were dropped. Brunei is also another country with near absolute monarchy, which will still prosecute lese majesty.

source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lese_majesty

Thailand rarely uses lese majeste laws, rather Thai politicians use lese majeste laws to harass opponents. Achaan Sulak, a fairly concervative monarchist, was charged by the ruling powers of lese majeste and forced into exile. If memeory serves me correctly, the charge was leveled after he noted, in a larger pro-monarchist context, that His Majesty was not omniscient.

[Heng]

They are now talking about him being eligible to re run as P.M. and head of the TRT just like before.

interesting information... your sources are???

Eligible??

At the risk of going off topic, when was he ever ineligible? He left voluntarily - under pressure, of course - and he can come back voluntarily. Did the PAD write a law that he could not?

True. And he'll have kept his promise of sitting out the "next government" (TRT Landslide III) if there are new elections (potentially TRT Landslide IV). But really, the behind the scenes pulling the strings position the PAD has helped to create for him is just as nice a position.

[lukamar]

Sondhi and the rest of them with outstanding charges have continually said it is not "convenient" for them to go to the police. In almost every other country on earth there would have been a warrant issued right away and the police would have brought them in. In a lot of those countries if the police had to seek you out to arrest you, no bail would be allowed and you would sit in jail until your hearing. This was inevitable and the rest should have gotten the word by now and surrender themselves voluntarily soon or face the same fate.

[Plus]

Strange move. Very strange. There's no chance he'll be found guilty and jailed. They'll have to release him on bail first, then they'll lose the case in courts.

Perhaps they are just doing what they have to do after issuing so many summonses.

Reflects very badly on Thaksin if he wants to run as a PM again.

On the other hand, the old boy has been out of the picture while the real stuff happened, he was certainly not in charge like on any previous occasions. Is he really written off? It's the first time in the last five years when major decisions are taken without any Thaksin's input.

[seonai]

Lukamar why the hel_l should someone who is speaking up against the Gov need to be arrested? Oh oops sorry I am asuming you are taking the side of those other than the PAD??????

[seonai]

Why would they "bring them in" ?????????????????????????????

Why exactly - because in this country - as in many others - we cannot speak freely?????????????????????

[ando]

The closest thing to majesty in USA that comes to mind is treason during war time.

Patriot Act? People were arrested for having the ghoul to speak out against Bush and the war.

Looks like Bush might have learned a few tricks from Thaksin. Or perhaps the other way round?

[sriracha john]

Sondhi and the rest of them with outstanding charges have continually said it is not "convenient" for them to go to the police. In almost every other country on earth there would have been a warrant issued right away and the police would have brought them in. In a lot of those countries if the police had to seek you out to arrest you, no bail would be allowed and you would sit in jail until your hearing. This was inevitable and the rest should have gotten the word by now and surrender themselves voluntarily soon or face the same fate.

You’re showing a distinct lack of familiarity with how things are done over here. This is all quite common. Kanchanaburi murderers being granted bail after running away and going on the lam. Chonburi godfathers being granted bail after convictions for first degree murder and corruption. Big wigs of all sorts being allowed to delay their subpoenas for arrest due to conflicts with scheduled business meetings, etc., etc.

I’m rather surprised by your lack of awareness of these quite-often practices here. No offense, but due to your stunned reaction, perhaps the Association of Foreigners Outside Thailand might be a more appropriate signature line.