Lese majeste charge: Trio confess

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

A Reuters news report filed yesterday that I'm reading on the Channel News Asia site says a police document they reviewed refers to Suriyan as an aide to Mr. No. 2 in Thailand.

I saw no mention of anything related to that here.

Of course, the local news report posted here quoted the police officials as saying all three suspects confessed. The Reuters report says Suriyan pleaded guilty, but the other two pleaded not guilty in court.

The Associated Press report I'm seeing is very brief and makes no mention of any of those details, but does include the following:

The court ordered the men to be detained at an army base pending trial, for which no date has been set. The fortune teller, Suriyan Sutjritpolwongse, who is better known by the nickname "Mor Yong," was recently involved in organizing a mass biking event to honor Queen Sirikit and was helping organize a similar event for King Bhumibol Adulyadej to mark his 87th birthday in December.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/06b32075aae64530b21e82383bcc8054/3-accused-violating-law-protecting-thai-monarchy

Edited October 22, 2015 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[metisdead]

An off topic troll post has been removed as well as a reply.

[mikemac]

So, the cop was investigating LM, and then committed LM himself. Did his process of investigation change his stance in the topic...I think Hollywood made some films with that mechanism as their central theme. Can't remember the film's name, Tom Cruise was in it, hunter turned to hunted.

Maybe the cop investigating the case repeated whatever the fortune-teller said !

(not a very good fortune-teller, he did not see this one coming)

Reminds me of the classic movie Life of Brian, and the stoning scene, where the old guy was dancing around singing Jehovah , Jehovah and John Cleese was screaming at him to shut up, and the crowd throwing the stones were all women wearing false beards. Very funny.

[Travel2003]

When are Thais going to say enough is enough and rise up.[emoji35]

The country is ready for a Khmer Rouge cleanup, where rich and famous, police tops, military tops, politicans should be wiped out.

Thailand is heading for a Burma style governemt.

[tominbkk]

I remember the man at the tip top saying Thailand would be better without le majeste, but people in privy wouldn't allow it to happen.

Edited October 22, 2015 by tominbkk

[EnglishJohn]

When are Thais going to say enough is enough and rise up.[emoji35]

The country is ready for a Khmer Rouge cleanup, where rich and famous, police tops, military tops, politicans should be wiped out.

Thailand is heading for a Burma style governemt.

I doubt it : there are not many of the 'foaming at the mouth' communist revolutionary brigade. Their time passed several decades ago.

The Thais I know think the Junta are much better than the last lot of dirty cronies and everything I see is going roughly in the right direction. It can never change overnight : the only chance for the country is if democracy can get a toe-hold and expand from there.

I wonder how many people actually realise why LM is being enforced so strictly at this time ....

[cmsally]

Realisation becomes a moot point as the topic is not up for discussion. Only moot, in so far as it is forbidden, which is of course terribly convenient for you in that you cannot be disproved. But then of course it cannot be proven either. Ignoramus et ignorabimus.

[bobmac10]

The three were escorted to the military court yesterday, arriving in three separate vehicles, handcuffed, and accompanied by a large group of heavily armed police commandos.

OMG...Imagine what kind of heavily armed police commando escort would be necessary for someone who had actually committed a real crime...

This smacks of Feudalism...surfs and Lords...Kings and peasants...

Hopefully some of the more archaic face saving rules will become moot in future administrations...

Feudalism, spot on.

LM - as much as it is a political hachet, it's primary reason for being is to allow those in power to maintain the feudal system in this country.

The country will never be able to address it's problems in an open and honest way as long as this law is at the disposal of those who do not want change, democracy, free speech, self-governance, ....

When Art 112 is abolished, that will be the sound of the starting gun for real progress in Thailand ... and not before.

Sad but true.

Yes, you are spot on there.

Reminds me of Henry the 8th's reign.

Absolutely no chance of this country progressing while these laws exist.

A primitive and archiac way of running a country.

Meanwhile the world looks on and shakes its head.

[bobmac10]

When are Thais going to say enough is enough and rise up.[emoji35]

The country is ready for a Khmer Rouge cleanup, where rich and famous, police tops, military tops, politicans should be wiped out.

Thailand is heading for a Burma style governemt.

I doubt it : there are not many of the 'foaming at the mouth' communist revolutionary brigade. Their time passed several decades ago.

The Thais I know think the Junta are much better than the last lot of dirty cronies and everything I see is going roughly in the right direction. It can never change overnight : the only chance for the country is if democracy can get a toe-hold and expand from there.

I wonder how many people actually realise why LM is being enforced so strictly at this time ....

John, you really must stop making up stories to suit your agenda.

That is the most ridiculous thing I've read all year.

"The Thais I know think the Junta are much better than the last lot of dirty cronies"

I don't know where you gleaned this information from, but it certainly isn't from the villagers from the North of Thailand where I live.

I speak Thai, have lived here on and off for 39 years and I can say in all honesty that the Thais I know (many in business, and social circles) all agree that this Junta is just a front for the powerful aristocratic families that have ruled Thailand for the past hundred years or so.

I also travel widely in Thailand and make it my business to discuss current affairs with Thais I meet.

Almost without exception, (the exception being public servants and government salaried workers in Bangkok) they say this Junta was initially supported by powerful factions within the aristocracy.

The reason being that the redshirts didn't invite them into their new regime, almost excluding them from their positions of priviledge where they could use government to enrich themselves.

The reds weren't much better mind you, but at least they were breaking up the cosy cabals that have existed from the days of elephant parades.

All this propaganda, that you swallow with gusto, is laughed off by Thais, the social network of stories and rumours at village level, tell the real story of what Thais think.

[z42]

Pathetic, this is just not how adults in civilized societies behave. All the armed security personnel and very soggy references to acting in the interests of national security don't fool anybody with an ounce of sense / moral fibre. It will be interesting to see how the normal rank and file will react to these kind of shows after the event occurs

[cookee68]

I guess he cant read his on fortune then. just another clever scam artist who can fool a country thats loves predictions, ghosts, and lotteries,

[phycokiller]

Sigh...... An ongoing travesty stemming from the bizarre use of LM laws.

Still waiting for the Thai people to wake up.....

pretty sure if you wrote that in Thai on a Thai forum it would be removed, I agree with you but... nobody likes attitude adjustment

Edited October 22, 2015 by phycokiller

[leeedwards]

Frightening how illegal possession of a weapon and ammunition is deemed far less serious than merely insulting someone.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Parts of assets of Mor Yong, two other lese majeste suspects frozen

The Nation October 23, 2015 9:30 am

Police have frozen parts of assets of the three high-profile lese majeste suspects, including celebrity fortune-teller Suriyan Sujaritpolwong, National police chief General Chakthip Chaijinda said Thursday.

"The authorities have taken actions to freeze parts of assets of the suspects who were brought to the military court yesterday [Wednesday]," Chakthip said.

The three suspects are Suriyan, 53, who is better known as "Mor Yong", his aide Jirawong Wattanathewasilp, 39, and Pol Major Prakrom Warunprapa, 44, an inspector from the Technology Crime Suppression Division.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Parts-of-assets-of-Mor-Yong-two-other-lese-majeste-30271443.html

Edited October 23, 2015 by metisdead
Edited as per fair use policy.

[Seastallion]

No mention of what they have done specifically.

There wouldn't be, and there never is.

Whenever this particular issue is at stake, the press switches into elliptical / pussy-footing mode, the result being that articles are mostly incomprehensible.

This one is just another example.

The OP says he's confessed to doing whatever it was for two months.

The next news story says, " His Facebook page said that he was born Suriyan Ariyawongsopon in Trang province but changed his name in 2008 after the family name was bestowed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

So, was the name change real, or is the claim on FB his crime?

And if the name change was genuine, why was it bestowed?

Edited October 23, 2015 by Seastallion

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Khaosod English has what appears to be a pretty thorough article on the case that resolves some of the issues raised above here, including the personal relationships involved.... worth reading.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445429743&section=11&typecate=06

The article also says police later corrected their original statement saying all three had confessed, to later saying one had confessed and the other two had in fact denied the charges.

Clarification: Although police Lt. Gen. Sriwarah Rangsipramnakul said Wednesday that all three suspects had confessed to the charges, a police news release issued after Sriwarah's news conference indicated only Suriyan had confessed, while two other suspects denied the allegation. This story has been updated to reflect that.

That would appear to be a pretty big boo boo someone in the police made in their original statement. But then again, I guess they're pretty much used to saying that everyone they arrest has confessed.

[soalbundy]

Khaosod English has what appears to be a pretty thorough article on the case that resolves some of the issues raised above here, including the personal relationships involved.... worth reading.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445429743&section=11&typecate=06

The article also says police later corrected their original statement saying all three had confessed, to later saying one had confessed and the other two had in fact denied the charges.

Clarification: Although police Lt. Gen. Sriwarah Rangsipramnakul said Wednesday that all three suspects had confessed to the charges, a police news release issued after Sriwarah's news conference indicated only Suriyan had confessed, while two other suspects denied the allegation. This story has been updated to reflect that.

That would appear to be a pretty big boo boo someone in the police made in their original statement. But then again, I guess they're pretty much used to saying that everyone they arrest has confessed.

What they meant was they haven't all confessed yet but they soon will, as soon as they get the generator fixed

[phoenixdoglover]

From the Kahasod English article (my emphasis added):

“As for evidence and behavior that implicate their wrongdoing, they are in the case file. I cannot disclose them right now,” Sriwarah told reporters.

...

Junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha himself urged the media yesterday to refrain from giving “too much coverage” to the ongoing investigation.

“Don’t get involved in it too much, this issue about 112. I don’t want too much coverage about it,” Gen. Prayuth said. “They are contesting the charges. Are they guilty? Did they really flaunt the connection? Look at those things.”

[kareona]

When are Thais going to say enough is enough and rise up.[emoji35]

The country is ready for a Khmer Rouge cleanup, where rich and famous, police tops, military tops, politicans should be wiped out.

Thailand is heading for a Burma style governemt.

I doubt it : there are not many of the 'foaming at the mouth' communist revolutionary brigade. Their time passed several decades ago.

The Thais I know think the Junta are much better than the last lot of dirty cronies and everything I see is going roughly in the right direction. It can never change overnight : the only chance for the country is if democracy can get a toe-hold and expand from there.

I wonder how many people actually realise why LM is being enforced so strictly at this time ....

John, you really must stop making up stories to suit your agenda.

That is the most ridiculous thing I've read all year.

"The Thais I know think the Junta are much better than the last lot of dirty cronies"

I don't know where you gleaned this information from, but it certainly isn't from the villagers from the North of Thailand where I live.

I speak Thai, have lived here on and off for 39 years and I can say in all honesty that the Thais I know (many in business, and social circles) all agree that this Junta is just a front for the powerful aristocratic families that have ruled Thailand for the past hundred years or so.

I also travel widely in Thailand and make it my business to discuss current affairs with Thais I meet.

Almost without exception, (the exception being public servants and government salaried workers in Bangkok) they say this Junta was initially supported by powerful factions within the aristocracy.

The reason being that the redshirts didn't invite them into their new regime, almost excluding them from their positions of priviledge where they could use government to enrich themselves.

The reds weren't much better mind you, but at least they were breaking up the cosy cabals that have existed from the days of elephant parades.

All this propaganda, that you swallow with gusto, is laughed off by Thais, the social network of stories and rumours at village level, tell the real story of what Thais think.

I agree with the above story. I speak Thai fluently. If I ask Thais what they think about the current political and social situation many people say something like 'tong od thon' which means 'we have to endure it'. They compare it to a husband who is beating his wife but the wife isn't able to resist or to flee. When I ask 'Why not?' they make a shooting gesture from the hip.

One day the Thai will rise up, like they did in the past, and I hope this time there will be succeed in the long run.

[TimmyT]

Under the spreading chestnut tree
I sold you and you sold me
There lie they, and here lie we
Under the spreading chestnut tree

no mercy for Lèse-majesté offenders!

Edited October 23, 2015 by TimmyT

[Howitzer]

So, the cop was investigating LM, and then committed LM himself. Did his process of investigation change his stance in the topic...I think Hollywood made some films with that mechanism as their central theme. Can't remember the film's name, Tom Cruise was in it, hunter turned to hunted.

minority report.

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

I have two words to say: No Comment...

Edited October 24, 2015 by Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere

[gk10002000]

So, the cop was investigating LM, and then committed LM himself. Did his process of investigation change his stance in the topic...I think Hollywood made some films with that mechanism as their central theme. Can't remember the film's name, Tom Cruise was in it, hunter turned to hunted.

Oblivion, or Minority Report

[gk10002000]

The law is you can be charged based on suspicion with something that can not ever be revealed or discussed and then you'll be sent away for decades in prison.

Great system isn't it.

It seems this is just the beginning of a cleansing of those with questionable loyalty to the regime.

Well written. It just has so much potential for abuse by those in charge. As you said, you can charge anybody, seize everything, and they literally can not defend themselves. No fair court hearing, or trial, because the subject can't be talked about. I am amazed that recently that one lady did fight the charge and was acquitted as somebody decided or ruled that they really didn't prove it was she that used her computer

[englishoak]

Just more evidence of where the place is going, down the toilet.

Edited October 25, 2015 by englishoak

[Briggsy]

The trio is now a duo.

Police Major Prakrom Warunprapa, 44, an inspector from the Technology Crime Suppression Division, "hanged himself" whilst in custody.

[soalbundy]

The trio is now a duo.

Police Major Prakrom Warunprapa, 44, an inspector from the Technology Crime Suppression Division, "hanged himself" whilst in custody.

From the look of him i would say he was well hung when he went in

[LannaGuy]

The trio is now a duo.

Police Major Prakrom Warunprapa, 44, an inspector from the Technology Crime Suppression Division, "hanged himself" whilst in custody.

ok found the story - can't say much else but no doubt the junta lovers will defend it RIP

Edited October 25, 2015 by LannaGuy

[ratcatcher]

Under the spreading chestnut tree

I sold you and you sold me

There lie they, and here lie we

Under the spreading chestnut tree

no mercy for Lèse-majesté offenders!

That little old chestnut sounds rather Orwellian doesn't it?

Edited October 25, 2015 by ratcatcher

[TimmyT]

Under the spreading chestnut tree

I sold you and you sold me

There lie they, and here lie we

Under the spreading chestnut tree

no mercy for Lèse-majesté offenders!

That little old chestnut sounds rather Orwellian doesn't it?

sure. luckily, the potential Big Brother is kicked out to Dubai

Edited October 25, 2015 by TimmyT