Australian journalist Alan Morison returns to Thailand to fight criminal defamation charges

[webfact]

Australian journalist Alan Morison returns to Thailand to fight criminal defamation charges
By South East Asia correspondent Samantha Hawley

(ABC) An Australian journalist facing criminal defamation charges in Thailand has decided to return to the country to fight for press freedom, despite the possibility of a seven-year jail term.

Alan Morison, editor of an online news site in Phuket and a former employee of the Melbourne Age, is set to be tried in July with Thai colleague Chutima Sidasathian over an article about the trafficking of refugees from Myanmar.

The story, published on the independent news website Phuketwan, contained excerpts from a Reuters special report alleging Thai military involvement in human trafficking of Muslim Rohingyas.

Morison managed to leave Thailand to visit his sick father, but was scheduled to return to Thailand today to fight the charges.

"[Criminal defamation] is a very serious offence in Thailand and we could be ... subjected to seven years jail under the maximum penalty," he said.

"We hope that doesn't prove to be the case because we think the case really shouldn't have been brought in the first place."

Full story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-06/journalist-fights-defamation-in-thailand/6075384

-- ABC 2015-02-06

[binjalin]

A brave man and I wish him the very best

[BigBadGeordie]

I have a feeling that the news of his return will not be welcomed by the prosecutors. A trial in absentia would involve much less public interest.

Good for you Mr Morison.

I shal be reporting myself in for attitude adjustment later today.

[JeremyBowskill]

Hope he's got a full wallet with him......... Thai justice doesn't come cheap!

[marcusd]

This is Thailand. This is not a fair place to hold a trial. Poor man will be stitched up to suit the will of the powerful ruling calss.

Poor man will face the same FAIRNESS that applies to all foreigners in trials here especially when the possibility of blame may lie with anything THAI such as the recent Koh Tao fiasco

[Tatsujin]

Best of luck with this one ... let's hope "truth" and "justice" win out here ... just for once.

[aussieinthailand]

Gotta give him cred,,, The prospect of time in a Thai gaol is not something many would like to take a chance with, and the legal system here.

[dragonfly94]

Pretty serious accusations he made and surely he would not return if he did not have proof, I think some will be wishing he was not coming back

[deckape]

This is the kind of social activism that deserves the utmost respect. He is willing to give up everything to give voice to the least powerful among us. Good on you Sir and may you not only win your trial, but continue in your important work.

[chainarong]

More damaging reputation to Thailand coming up , Mr Morison looks to be taking on the Thai Government as it pursues excellence in no freedom of speech and for that matter no freedom for the peasants ,undoubtedly Mr Morison will tell the world what the circumstances are and the incompetence of the system and its officials, I wish him luck, it will be a refreshing break from what Prayut-O-cha has to say, he has my support.

[NongKhaiKid]

I have a feeling that the news of his return will not be welcomed by the prosecutors. A trial in absentia would involve much less public interest.

Good for you Mr Morison.

I shal be reporting myself in for attitude adjustment later today.

Yes, the unwanted glare of the international media, again.

[greenchair]

If my son turned out like that.

What a proud parent I would be.

[worgeordie]

He's either a very brave man or a fool,wishing him good luck anyway.

regards worgeordie

[dragonfly94]

Of course even he can prove the truth in what he claimed he can still be found guilty of defamation, that's all part of the 'justice' system here.

Edited February 6, 2015 by dragonfly94

[aussieinthailand]

Pretty serious accusations he made and surely he would not return if he did not have proof, I think some will be wishing he was not coming back

Please correct me if I'm wrong but, I believe he put some parts of a Reuters article about the human trafficking issue on the online news.

So now begs the question, How's the charges coming along against Reuters for the very same thing? or even if there is one? maybe that dog is to big and bites back?

Another question, hasn't there been a number of police, military navy and officials as well as civilians been caught just recently? and if so then there you have it,

[kingalfred]

Brave but rather stupid decision

[cdmtdm]

brave man ? i think its called lazy editing .....

[mikemac]

I admire this man's convictions, he has more character, morals and courage in one of his little toenails than the famous desert nomad has in his entire body.

[Rickster]

The bloke is a media parasite and deserves all he gets. Just look at the way he replies to readers on his news feed who may have different opinions....you either agree with his biased controversial reporting or get verbally abused for having an alternative opinion. Karma is a b1tch Mr Morison!!!

Edited February 6, 2015 by Rickster

[Baerboxer]

Pretty serious accusations he made and surely he would not return if he did not have proof, I think some will be wishing he was not coming back

Please correct me if I'm wrong but, I believe he put some parts of a Reuters article about the human trafficking issue on the online news.

So now begs the question, How's the charges coming along against Reuters for the very same thing? or even if there is one? maybe that dog is to big and bites back?

Another question, hasn't there been a number of police, military navy and officials as well as civilians been caught just recently? and if so then there you have it,

Truth, facts, morals and common sense just don't come into it.

Yes, he quoted Reuters - and yes, they were talking about suing Reuters at one point - good luck with that one.

He's a brave and principled man, a rare commodity.

You never know here. They might decide to stick two fingers to the world, find him guilty and punish him; or just as easily find some way to dismiss the charges or find him guilty but apply a token punishment. All depends on what they decide - nothing to do with what's right, wrong or justice. Just what suits whose agenda.

[FritsSikkink]

Pretty serious accusations he made and surely he would not return if he did not have proof, I think some will be wishing he was not coming back

Please correct me if I'm wrong but, I believe he put some parts of a Reuters article about the human trafficking issue on the online news.

So now begs the question, How's the charges coming along against Reuters for the very same thing? or even if there is one? maybe that dog is to big and bites back?

Another question, hasn't there been a number of police, military navy and officials as well as civilians been caught just recently? and if so then there you have it,

He quoted a paragraph of Reuters article. The Reuters gave a balanced story. When the police charged him, he started dissing the navy on a almost daily basis.

[laocowboy2]

Egypt. Military overthrow lawfully elected government in coup. Imprison Al Jazeera journalists on flimsy charges one of whom is an Australian. Cue global outrage and massive bad publicity with journalists in many countries focusing on faults and negative behavior of self-appointed new military ruler.

Sound familiar? Car crash coming.

[wandasloan]

Pretty serious accusations he made and surely he would not return if he did not have proof, I think some will be wishing he was not coming back

I don't understand why people don't understand this case. The truth and proof are not at issue. If he proves that everything he wrote down to the dotted i's were absolutely and completely true, it would have nothing to do with the charges.

He and his Phuketwan co-worker are charged with defaming the Royal Thai Navy. The charge is they made the Navy and its men look bad. The court will decide if they did, or didn't. There will be allegations and testimony both ways. But the truth of what they wrote is not relevant, and won't be admitted or considered as direct evidence. It MIGHT be relevant as a mitigating circumstance.

This is essentially the same law that Britain has. Truth is not a defence, and usually is not even argued. There is only one vital difference, in that in Britain it's a civil matter and penalties are only huge damages, not jail sentences. Other than that, they're quite similar and I'm amazed that not even British people seem to understand what's going on in this defamation/libel case.

He quoted a paragraph of Reuters article. The Reuters gave a balanced story. When the police charged him, he started dissing the navy on a almost daily basis.

You should have stopped after your first, correct sentence. The rest of it is nonsense. The last sentence is not only wrong but (irony alert) arguably libelous defamation.

Edited February 6, 2015 by wandasloan

[jollyman]

He should fight against Thailand from OUTSIDE he just cannot win. The Army/yellows/rich will lock him up,poor deluded man

[Andre0720]

Defamation law...

A law to protect these people from themselves....

[FritsSikkink]

He should fight against Thailand from OUTSIDE he just cannot win. The Army/yellows/rich will lock him up,poor deluded man

The reds were in power when he got charged.

[Rorri]

dragonfly94, on 06 Feb 2015 - 14:02, said:

Pretty serious accusations he made and surely he would not return if he did not have proof, I think some will be wishing he was not coming back

You need to FOLLOW the whole story, all he, and his blog, did was REPRINT part of an article published by Reuters. Reuters has not been charged. Although Alan can be a pain in the arse, criticises many readers, especially if they have different views to his, often with bitter, snide remarks, and not publishing replies that he doesn't agree with, I do hope the charges are dropped. Mmmm, maybe a public caning wouldn't go astray.

[katana]

Pretty serious accusations he made and surely he would not return if he did not have proof, I think some will be wishing he was not coming back

I don't understand why people don't understand this case. The truth and proof are not at issue. If he proves that everything he wrote down to the dotted i's were absolutely and completely true, it would have nothing to do with the charges.

He and his Phuketwan co-worker are charged with defaming the Royal Thai Navy. The charge is they made the Navy and its men look bad. The court will decide if they did, or didn't. There will be allegations and testimony both ways. But the truth of what they wrote is not relevant, and won't be admitted or considered as direct evidence. It MIGHT be relevant as a mitigating circumstance.

This is essentially the same law that Britain has. Truth is not a defence, and usually is not even argued. There is only one vital difference, in that in Britain it's a civil matter and penalties are only huge damages, not jail sentences. Other than that, they're quite similar and I'm amazed that not even British people seem to understand what's going on in this defamation/libel case.

I don't think that's correct. Are you sure that the truth isn't a defence in UK (English) law?

From Wikipedia:

"...English law allows actions for libel to be brought in the High Court for any published statements which are alleged to defame a named or identifiable individual (or individuals; note that under English law companies are legal persons, and may bring suit for defamation) in a manner which causes them loss in their trade or profession, or causes a reasonable person to think worse of him, her or them. Allowable defences are justification (i.e. the truth of the statement), fair comment (i.e., whether the statement was a view that a reasonable person could have held), and privilege (i.e., whether the statements were made in Parliament or in court, or whether they were fair reports of allegations in the public interest)..."

"...A claim of defamation is defeated if the defendant proves that the statement was true...."

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

Edited February 6, 2015 by katana

[rasmus5150]

Mr. SandMan in Dubai, should learn something from this guy.

[Pinot]

I've learned not to pull the lion's tail. Yes, he was in a position to change things, and good on him, but for most, it just not worth it.

He's a cantankerous old fart, but in this case, it's a good fight. This situation is horrible and the Thais aren't helping and people are making money.

The other thing you gotta remember is, a bullet is 100 baht here. Stay out of Thai business.