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

[Bangkok Barry]

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

In Thailand it doesn't matter at all if what he says or writes is true, and he has proof. The crime is in the accusation. More Thainess.

[Reigntax]

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

Exactly. An intelligent person chooses where to have the fight and under what terms he has an advantage and the best chance to win. Everyone knows the deficiency and abuse of Thailand's defamation laws, especially being used by the guilty to shut people up.

You cannot go to another country and expect the same freedom as you receive at home.

While the original story highlighted human rights violations, the focus has gradually shifted to the rights and ability of freedom of the media to publish stories.

[The manic]

Nuff Respect. Let's hope the eyes of the world stay on this one. Everyday the Philippines look more and more attractive.

[surangw]

Defamation law...

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

same theory as pointing out the emperor has no clothes ( you just don't want to be the one that points it out)

[BestBitterPhuket]

What a brave man. He towers over the cowards who brought the case against him. All the talk about fighting corruption and making Thailand a better place, is empty talk without removing this stupid law.

[chooka]

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

The Junta made a media release that they arrested 12 public officials including military officers involved in human trafficking. No names released or finger pointing tho. This is an admission by Thailand that the practice aired by Alan Morrison was actually occurring. If he is jailed for reporting facts then Thailand had better brace itself for a barrage of condemnation from the international media and community.

Thailand should have a look at the Peter Greste incident. This is huge opportunity for the P.M to score a few points internationally especially when he really needs them and have the case dropped. He was the head of the military when this was going on so face may over rule common sense.

Edited February 6, 2015 by chooka

[wandasloan]

The Junta made a media release that they arrested 12 public officials including military officers involved in human trafficking. No names released or finger pointing tho. This is an admission by Thailand that the practice aired by Alan Morrison was actually occurring. If he is jailed for reporting facts then Thailand had better brace itself for a barrage of condemnation from the international media and community.

He is not charged with reporting facts. He is charged with making written statements that hurt the feelings and damaged the reputation of the Royal Thai Navy and all its men and women.

Thailand should have a look at the Peter Greste incident. This is huge opportunity for the P.M to score a few points internationally especially when he really needs them and have the case dropped. He was the head of the military when this was going on so face may over rule common sense.

The junta certainly has the power to order a subsidiary of the junta to drop the charges. There is one overriding law at the moment and that is the whim of the top man.

Now.

Put the top man's known level of respect for the media against his known need for the loyalty of his subordinates. Throw in his regard for the opinions of the international community.

Predict for us whether you think he will actually follow your excellent advice.

.

[Toknarok]

It will be almost 6 months before this comes to trial. Although it has only been one week since the news of intended prosecution of the so far un-named 12 officials for human trafficking, lets hope that between now and Mr Morrisons trial further details of the prosecution of these 12 emerge. Althought such details might not have any effect on the defamation case, anything that backs up Mr. Morrison and Reuters accusations can only demonstrate the injustices in the so called Thai 'justice' system.

The eyes of the world wil be on this case.

[mikemac]

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

I doubt if the "Army" will lock him up, or the "yellows" for that matter. And as far as the "rich" go, the Shins may well be included in that list and far from locking anybody up they are more worried about being locked up themselves. One well known Shin has in fact been avoiding being locked up for about seven years now and is in fact hiding out under the cover of self imposed exile.

Perhaps this journo should have done the same.

[mikemac]

The Junta made a media release that they arrested 12 public officials including military officers involved in human trafficking. No names released or finger pointing tho. This is an admission by Thailand that the practice aired by Alan Morrison was actually occurring. If he is jailed for reporting facts then Thailand had better brace itself for a barrage of condemnation from the international media and community.

He is not charged with reporting facts. He is charged with making written statements that hurt the feelings and damaged the reputation of the Royal Thai Navy and all its men and women.

Thailand should have a look at the Peter Greste incident. This is huge opportunity for the P.M to score a few points internationally especially when he really needs them and have the case dropped. He was the head of the military when this was going on so face may over rule common sense.

The junta certainly has the power to order a subsidiary of the junta to drop the charges. There is one overriding law at the moment and that is the whim of the top man.

Now.

Put the top man's known level of respect for the media against his known need for the loyalty of his subordinates. Throw in his regard for the opinions of the international community.

Predict for us whether you think he will actually follow your excellent advice.

.

...................."He is charged with making written statements that hurt the feelings and damaged the reputation of the Royal Thai Navy and all its men and women."............................

If that is the case there must be some very worried TVF posters out there, judging by the number of posts that ruthlessly attack the present "government" and the Military.

[Chris Lawrence]

The Junta made a media release that they arrested 12 public officials including military officers involved in human trafficking. No names released or finger pointing tho. This is an admission by Thailand that the practice aired by Alan Morrison was actually occurring. If he is jailed for reporting facts then Thailand had better brace itself for a barrage of condemnation from the international media and community.

He is not charged with reporting facts. He is charged with making written statements that hurt the feelings and damaged the reputation of the Royal Thai Navy and all its men and women.

Thailand should have a look at the Peter Greste incident. This is huge opportunity for the P.M to score a few points internationally especially when he really needs them and have the case dropped. He was the head of the military when this was going on so face may over rule common sense.

The junta certainly has the power to order a subsidiary of the junta to drop the charges. There is one overriding law at the moment and that is the whim of the top man.

Now.

Put the top man's known level of respect for the media against his known need for the loyalty of his subordinates. Throw in his regard for the opinions of the international community.

Predict for us whether you think he will actually follow your excellent advice.

.

...................."He is charged with making written statements that hurt the feelings and damaged the reputation of the Royal Thai Navy and all its men and women."............................

If that is the case there must be some very worried TVF posters out there, judging by the number of posts that ruthlessly attack the present "government" and the Military.

What they need sent off to them is white feathers. (Or Hankies to have a good cry)

Sad when you speak up for someone who does not have that voice to protest or protect their rights, that one finger is pointed at you (but three are pointing back at the accusers). Some other jurno's have left the country because of their commitment to people without a voice; don't know too much about this fellow. Hope for his sake he is on the money.

[NCC1701A]

"Journalist sentenced to seven years in Thai prison for investigating human trafficking"

[Thai at Heart]

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.

Not quite true about the uk.

Printing is justified if it is in the public interest.

Is it good that corruption is exposed ? The law says yes..thus making someone look bad is justified, even John Terry or Ryan Giggs who tried to muzzle the media lost.

This case serves only to make Thailand look utterly absurd.

Edited February 7, 2015 by Thai at Heart

[bobbymack]

^{Truth is of course a defence in English law. It is known as "fair comment"}