For King and country

[Lite Beer]

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
For King and country
Kornchanok Raksaseri
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Maj Gen Rienthong Nanna explains why he has set up an organisation to rid the country of all those who insult the Monarch

In the headlines since setting up an organisation that aims "to eradicate the "rubbish of the nation" and fight the people who "insult the monarchy," Maj Gen Rienthong Nanna says his mission in life is to protect the monarchy.

The director of the private Mongkutwattana General Hospital since taking early retirement from the military seven years ago, the 54-year-old doctor has now handed over the administration of the hospital to others and assumed an advisory role as he focuses his efforts on chasing down anti-royalists.

"If my hospital is affected as a result, so be it," he says, adding that his family, including his three children, fully supports his decisions. "Personal issues are small in comparison."

His organisation aims to build a network to search out and report anyone who violates the lese majeste law and ensure they face legal action.

Rienthong has come under fire for picking the word "rubbish" for the group's name but insist it is not too harsh.

"The people who insult the monarchy and their allies deserve to be called rubbish as they are ungrateful. They don't know what's right and what's wrong. The monarch has greatly contributed to the country but they insult the Royal Family, saying they are just "criticising" as is their constitutional right. Take a look at the social media and it is clear this is not mere criticism, pictures have been doctored.

"The monarchy has no means of protecting itself. Have you ever seen His Majesty sue a subject? Never. He only grants amnesty. Today, we still have Article 112 [of the penal code, the lese majeste law]. Think how much worse it would be if we didn't."

Contrite at having ignored the anti-royalist comments for too long and cognisant that the insults have increased, he says the movement has reached the point where it must be stopped.

"I declare myself as an enemy of the people who insult the monarchy and the people who support them. I am not an enemy of the red shirts or any other particular group of people," he says.

He is realistic enough to know that love and respect for the monarchy cannot be forced nor will people necessarily change their views.

"You think differently; you don't love the monarchy, that's okay. You are not rubbish. But don't ever insult the monarchy or encourage such insults," he says.

To speed up and reduce the work of the authorities in pursuing incidents of lese majeste, the network gathers evidence both on- and offline. In cases of clear wrongdoing, the individual will face legal action while the person making the report is rewarded at each step.

The network will also take it on itself to report to the family, friends and colleagues of a suspect about his/her behaviour. Social sanctions could start from there.

The evidence, though, must be concrete and anyone who attempts to frame another will also face legal action.

And while Rienthong has plenty of detractors, he also enjoys support: The week the Facebook page was launched, it attracted 144,000 Likes.

Recently, following threats from a group of armed men, Rienthong announced his group would be armed for the purposes of self-defence.

Last week, the group submitted video clips and filed a complaint with the Technological Crime Suppression Division against Thai-British woman Chatwadee Amornpat, who lives in the UK. Her parents had earlier also filed a lese majeste complaint against her. The case is pending.

While Rienthong has yet to decide on an English name for his organisation in the meantime, he is calling himself Van Helsing after the vigilante monster hunter

An avid storyteller, he is full praise for his alma mater Phramongkutklao College of Medicine for giving "a chance to a boy without a future".

The medical school, which owes its existence to His Majesty the King, enabled him to develop his career and turn a long-cherished dream into reality.

Despite becoming known as the result of the current political conflict, Rienthong says his organisation and its movement has nothing to do with politics. He doesn't know the People's Democratic Reform Committee leader Suthep Thaugsuban personally and his only support for the protest has been humanitarian through the provision of medical services.

"Mongkutwattana is the closest hospital to the Chaeng Wattana protest site and even if I were against the PDRC, I would have provided the same level of assistance," he says adding that his hospital's staff includes both PDRC and red shirt supporters and that they work together without problem.

While the PDRC announced the "Bangkok Shutdown" on January 13, Rienthong opened the hospital to protesters, offering food and drinks and toilet facilities in addition to ambulances and emergency medical services. Patients were asked to bring their identification cards and the hospital would charge the National Health Security Fund for its services. Rienthong also announced that the hospital would not allow police or strangers to use its multi-storey building as the strategic location for any operation.

On February 14, while the anti-government protesters were chanting on Chaeng Wattana Road, Rienthong went to speak to police officers preparing to disperse the rally. He and his son each pushed on a police shield in an attempt to stop the line, which was moving forward, from reaching the protesters.

His action was praised by the anti-government camp and the pictures were circulated on social media.

He later demanded on Facebook that the national police chief revise operations, adding that if the police officers were sincere, then there would have been no need for them to cover their faces while dispersing the protesters.

Not everyone agreed with his stance: In early March, his hospital was attacked by gunfire. While there were no injuries, the bullet left a hole in the seventh floor. Rienthong refused to file a complaint, explaining that he trusted neither the police nor the government.

Asked if he has ever feared anything, he returns to his mission.

"I have never been afraid, but now I fear that the institution of the monarchy will be destroyed," he says.

-- The Nation 2014-04-27

[Piichai]

Heartwarming to see more brave men taking a stand.

[notmyself]

Witchfinder general no less.

[chooka]

Another lunatic PDRC supporter.

[The stuttering parrot]

This bloke is a doctor?

I thought doctors were supposed to take bullets out of people not put them into people!

And discriminating against people who he might aid or aid depending on their employment or their political beliefs.

I thought doctors took the Hippocratic oath not the hypocritical oath!

[Roadman]

Fully in support of His Most Royal Highness The King but not of this guy or his rubbish organisation.

[terryp]

Thailand Land of the Free................in words ONLY. a Country of Elite hypocrites...do as I say Or>>>>>>>>

[thesetat2013]

Wow! It didnt take long for the REDS tos come out attacking this OP! You all should read the whole article before you post such nonsense. Like parrot stuttering about him taking an oath and putting bullets into people. What rubbish. This man is gettinf armed securiry to protect himself not going out looking for people to kill. Besides he is a General.

And Chooka stating he is a lunatic PDRC supporter. More rubbish. A lunatuc would not be running a hospital and in this article alone it states this man is not takinf sides like you. And he is offering free medical to both the REDS and the PDRC. Without regard to political preference. What is wrong with a man who loves his King and is doing what he can to help all the people? You all have no shame in pointing your fingers shouting with your red blinders.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited April 27, 2014 by thesetat2013

[NongKhaiKid]

Oscar Wilde said something about patriotism being the virtue of the vicious and the not so good doctor is the poster boy.

[The stuttering parrot]

What are you on about set?

He took his stance and was actively involved with the protesters on February 14 and furthermore made another stance by stating he does trust the police or the government.

Does not matter what I think but it was a stance so he is not neutral.

And of course the nation sanitising stories to shed a better light on this doesn't help!

[Thaiisnotrequired]

"If my hospital is affected as a result, so be it," he says,

Spoken from the mouth of a true Thai doctor. Fame and notoriety come before patients, of course.

[chooka]

Oscar Wilde said something about patriotism being the virtue of the vicious and the not so good doctor is the poster boy.

He really is an evil looking character, bet he wasn't a paediatrician.

[Thaiisnotrequired]

"He later demanded on Facebook that the national police chief revise operations....."

FB...... the new way to rule Thailand.

Who would have thought? ............ Na! Don't answer that...

[Thaiisnotrequired]

Oscar Wilde said something about patriotism being the virtue of the vicious and the not so good doctor is the poster boy.

He really is an evil looking character, bet he wasn't a paediatrician.

He looks like a male's gynaecologist.

Edited April 27, 2014 by Thaiisnotrequired

[Piichai]

Does not matter what I think but it was a stance so he is not neutral.

Neutrality is not required to be a doctor. But what *is* required to move this country forward, is brave people taking a stand.

One finds it interesting that the Reds wish to stifle free speech.

[Roadman]

Wow! It didnt take long for the REDS tos come out attacking this OP! You all should read the whole article before you post such nonsense. Like parrot stuttering about him taking an oath and putting bullets into people. What rubbish. This man is gettinf armed securiry to protect himself not going out looking for people to kill. Besides he is a General.

And Chooka stating he is a lunatic PDRC supporter. More rubbish. A lunatuc would not be running a hospital and in this article alone it states this man is not takinf sides like you. And he is offering free medical to both the REDS and the PDRC. Without regard to political preference. What is wrong with a man who loves his King and is doing what he can to help all the people? You all have no shame in pointing your fingers shouting with your red blinders.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Those issues aside what is wrong is the lese majeste rules themselves are draconian enough without vigilantes like this also needing to monster them. Full credit to the guy for the doctorate work he does which is highly commended. But Van Helsing? Hunting monsters? Classic example is the family being judas to their daughter...Van Helsing? Try Idiot Nanna.

[Prbkk]

McCarthyist nutter. Part of the problem rather than the solution.

[chooka]

Does not matter what I think but it was a stance so he is not neutral.

Neutrality is not required to be a doctor. But what *is* required to move this country forward, is brave people taking a stand.

One finds it interesting that the Reds wish to stifle free speech.

Um lese Majeste and defamation laws stifle free speech. You have this Doctor and PDRC supporter who has established his own band to seek out and destroy anyone who speaks freely and it is a red who is Thailands most wanted for speaking freely.

[The stuttering parrot]

Pilchai I was responding to a post who claimed that he was neutral and in typical yellow fashion decided to distort the facts or just plain lie.

Obviously a leaf taken out of the yellow shirt bible the nation!

[rabas]

Does not matter what I think but it was a stance so he is not neutral.

Neutrality is not required to be a doctor. But what *is* required to move this country forward, is brave people taking a stand.

One finds it interesting that the Reds wish to stifle free speech.

Good post.

"Neutrality" has no relationship to right and wrong.

If it did, then people who were neutral on average would be half wrong.

Edited April 27, 2014 by rabas

[geriatrickid]

Heartwarming to see more brave men taking a stand.

He's cut from the same cloth as Franco, Videla, Viola and Pinochet etc.

If you consider a man who wishes to engage in terror and killing under the guise of loyalty to his nation, as brave, then you have no sense of morality.

In case you didn't learn the lesson from the past century of secret killing squads, it's wrong and it only leads to more violence.

[issanaus]

Heartwarming to see more brave men taking a stand.

He's cut from the same cloth as Franco, Videla, Viola and Pinochet etc.

If you consider a man who wishes to engage in terror and killing under the guise of loyalty to his nation, as brave, then you have no sense of morality.

In case you didn't learn the lesson from the past century of secret killing squads, it's wrong and it only leads to more violence.

But what has Thaksin got to do with it?

[The stuttering parrot]

Trust me!

After all I am a doctor!

[Somtamnication]

Sounds like McCarthyism Thai style.

[Piichai]

Does not matter what I think but it was a stance so he is not neutral.

Neutrality is not required to be a doctor. But what *is* required to move this country forward, is brave people taking a stand.

One finds it interesting that the Reds wish to stifle free speech.

Um lese Majeste and defamation laws stifle free speech. You have this Doctor and PDRC supporter who has established his own band to seek out and destroy anyone who speaks freely and it is a red who is Thailands most wanted for speaking freely.

They really don't; lese majeste is a red herring (no pun intended) used by those who attempt to draw focus away from very real problems that affect a great number of people, Thais and expats alike.

As someone who operates a number of businesses in Thailand, it is quite easy to not run afoul of lese majeste; however, I am forced to deal with cronyism, nepotism, and/or unabashed corruption seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Now, I can't say I haven't benefited from corruption in Thailand, but I would quite happily trade these benefits for a competent government.

Every day we are seeing more people taking a stand. I suspect they must feel the same.

[rabas]

What are you on about set?

He took his stance and was actively involved with the protesters on February 14 and furthermore made another stance by stating he does trust the police or the government.

Does not matter what I think but it was a stance so he is not neutral.

And of course the nation sanitising stories to shed a better light on this doesn't help!

No, you are making your own set of facts.

I was there and watched the whole thing, shivering, I posted some pictures elsewhere in some thread. The only access to Mongutwatthana Hospital is a tiny Soi next to Soi 14. The huge and well armed (equipped) police force had formed a battle line just in front of this Soi, which would essentially block any access to the hospital. The Chaengwatthana protest site is heavily fortified because of red violence and it was clear to all watching that there was about to be a blood bath. If the doctor did interfere with the police as stated, he was surely representing his hospital and his profession in trying to prevent death and suffering.

He was not with or among the protesters as you prevaricate.

By the way, Goh Tee the violent was also there. So which one would you support?, the doctor who's hospital is open to all and who is trying to prevent death and injury, or red Goh Tee, known for his love of violence against people?

Edited April 27, 2014 by rabas

[Piichai]

Heartwarming to see more brave men taking a stand.

He's cut from the same cloth as Franco, Videla, Viola and Pinochet etc.

If you consider a man who wishes to engage in terror and killing under the guise of loyalty to his nation, as brave, then you have no sense of morality.

In case you didn't learn the lesson from the past century of secret killing squads, it's wrong and it only leads to more violence.

Well, I've been here long enough to remember Thaksin murdering Muslims by the truckload, and the 2,500 or so ex judicial deaths in Thaksin's war on drugs. And, of course, we still see the actions of Thaksin's Red Shirts every day.

It seems to me that if you're looking for Thai death squads, you're looking in the wrong place.

[chainarong]

As per usual I will decline to comment on this subject, till Thailand becomes a proper democracy and freedom of speech is allowed within certain guidelines as with proper protocol, as with other nations, suffice to say the guy is a lunatic , should be placed in a straight jacket and disappeared.

Edited April 27, 2014 by chainarong

[The stuttering parrot]

Oh boy the yellow glasses are well and truly out!

Now he wasn't even there!

Yet the anti government protesters applauded his actions and stance and pictures were circulated of him being there.

I hope someone puts them up on here..

[noitom]

Van Helsing? Calling his group to "eradicate the rubbish of the nation." Sounds like a Thai crackpot or another version of a Hitler.