UK journalist faces Thai jail for carrying protective gear

[chrisinth]

3 minutes ago, anotheruser said:

Reading the full article all journalists have to do is 

 

"Journalists who feel they need to carry this stuff need to inform or contact the concerned authorities prior to travelling," junta spokesman Major General Werachon Sukhonhapatipak told AFP.

 

So it seems they are aware of the issue and they should have made contact before hand. In that case the journalist really has nothing to cry about. If you don't feel like contacting Thai authorities simply fly through another country than Thailand.

 

 

The question would be is this public knowledge to a journalist either in transit or on stop-over in Thailand? Or was that an on-the-fly comment from the Major General?

 

The last journalist to be arrested I believe was actually reporting in Thailand and his vest was classified as a war weapon as he tried to head back to Hong Kong.

[sujoop]

It appears the origin of the law is likely to prevent 'just any person' (including  criminals) from wearing  body armour, thus the license/permit requirement and only allowing those showing practical need. In this case and others involving Journalists, he should simply be directed to get a permit/license prior to next entry and allowed to proceed. Not certain about airline rules regarding boarding with a bullet proof vest, or if having such a restriction, if the onus is on the airport/country at point of embarkation to enforce.

 

Quote:
In Australia it is illegal to possess body armour without authorisation in certain territories  (South Australia, Victoria, Northern Territory, ACT, Queensland and New South Wales).

In certain Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Nova Scotia)  a license is required to possess body armour, though there are no such restrictions in the rest of the country.

In the European Union, ballistic protection that is considered ‘for main military usage’ is restricted to civilians.
In the United Kingdom, there are currently no legal restrictions on the purchase and ownership of body armour.
In the United States it is legal to purchase and possess body armour, except for a few states:
- In Connecticut, body armour can only be purchased in person, and cannot be purchased online, over the phone, or by mail;
- In New York, a proposed ban of body armour for private citizens is currently debated;
- In Kentucky, committing a crime while wearing or even owning body armour is a crime in and of itself;
- In Louisiana, it is illegal to wear body armour on school property or on campus.

https://www.safeguardclothing.com/uk/articles/body-armour-uk-law/

Edited May 30, 2017 by sujoop

[anotheruser]

Just now, chrisinth said:

The question would be is this public knowledge to a journalist either in transit or on stop-over in Thailand? Or was that an on-the-fly comment from the Major General?

 

The last journalist to be arrested I believe was actually reporting in Thailand and his vest was classified as a war weapon as he tried to head back to Hong Kong.

It simply doesn't matter. Ignorance of the law in most places isn't a defensible excuse. I guess it is possible he didn't hear of the other journalist who was arrested who was also working for China. The people he worked for should have known. 

[Bangkok Barry]

I have lived in Thailand for nearly 25 years and have yet to witness any common sense. It really is remarkable that it is possible for it to be totally absent in a country.

[wakeupplease]

They did say anything in transit just the other day.

 

Just trying to make cash from travelers any way they can its the new norm

[PomPolo]

Maybe he was planning a trip to Pattaya?

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[Brian Allen]

3 hours ago, stanleycoin said:

A fair number of Thai Men are armed all the time in Thailand.

But that's all ok !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds good - A well-armed population is a polite population. 

[Chris Lawrence]

Carrying luggage like this today on planes, should set you to think do I need to clear this in the countries I enter? Good start to the job if you can't get your equipment out of Bangkok?

[tifino]

what was it that highlighted him?

 

I'm trying to see if maybe there's a particuar 'colour' or something, apart from simply the shape of things:

 

[wavemanwww]

Christ you have all missed the topic. He was wearing protective gear only. Why is that a fking crime. It's not attacking gear. He just passed the OHS (Occupation and Safety) laws in any civilised country. ISO 18001 which Thailand themselves use to promote company safety for it's workers at many of their companies! What a joke.

[tifino]

 

... it must have been the Kevlar Undies that dunnit!!

[connda]

5 hours ago, 11223344 said:

I bet a machete is on the same classification level as a kitchen knife

Just don't carry either one of them in your trunk or back seat.  An if you live in rural Thailand, you can strap it to your belt and nobody is going to say a word.  Not even the local BIB.  Out in the sticks, it's assumed to be a tool, well, until it isn't.  

[gk10002000]

These items have been clearly discussed in recent years and any so-called journalist maybe should try reading the news and investigating a country before flying there.

[gk10002000]

1 hour ago, wavemanwww said:

Christ you have all missed the topic. He was wearing protective gear only. Why is that a fking crime. It's not attacking gear. He just passed the OHS (Occupation and Safety) laws in any civilised country. ISO 18001 which Thailand themselves use to promote company safety for it's workers at many of their companies! What a joke.

It is a crime because it is against the law in that country.  Case closed.  Personal protection or not is irrelevant.  It's the law, or whatever you call it in Thailand several coups in and several suspended constitutions later.

[lungnorm]

Stupid laws. I once had 6 of those mozzie zapper gadgets that look like tennis raquets confiscated by ozzie customs because they are clasified as electrical weapons.

[Chip Allen]

When will western governments grow a  pair of stones and DEMAND that Thailand rescind this law?

[USPatriot]

Just another journalist not doing research

[Usernames]

58 minutes ago, Chip Allen said:

When will western governments grow a  pair of stones and DEMAND that Thailand rescind this law?

Yes, Bwana.  Now, Bwana.

[lvr181]

Sometimes "authorities" are like ostriches with their heads in the sand. Some critical quick thinking would be to quarantine the items until the reporter has cleared Immigration on departure and give the items back to him prior to boarding his onward flight. Geez, it's not rocket science! 

[stanleycoin]

20 hours ago, Brian Allen said:

Sounds good - A well-armed population is a polite population. 

I some how think ,    its just dont work like

that in Thailand. 

[lvr181]

1 minute ago, stanleycoin said:

I some how think ,    its just dont work like

that in Thailand. 

Or the U.S.A.?

[swanny321]

6 hours ago, Chip Allen said:

When will western governments grow a  pair of stones and DEMAND that Thailand rescind this law?

 

    To be fair to Thailand; if he'd ate a packet of pork scratching that morning in the UK and transited through

a certain Islamic state with one found lodged in the tread of his boot; he'd probably of got a life sentence!

[speedtripler]

On 2017-5-30 at 1:46 PM, richard_smith237 said:

This law seems a little unfair for those who require such equipment to carry out their profession safely. 

I'm not sure how easy it would be for a non-Thai to apply for a license for such items. 

 

A Journalist from Hong Kong faced the same issues a few years ago when reporting in Thailand. 

 

It would make a lot of sense for the Thai Authorities to act sensibly and offer registered journalists some leeway, or even adjust the law for registered journalists to register these items on arrival (and departure) to be used for their own safety. 

 

Its not hard, it easy... but when did common sense ever get in the way of some good old fashioned obstruction and awkwardness.... 

 

How could the police snipers shoot people who need shooting if they're wearing bulletproof gear? 

 

Some news is just not safe to put on tv

[tifino]

head shot

 

 

and shoot 1st

Edited May 31, 2017 by tifino

[Psimbo]

Thai police implement (stupid) law- Thaigeezers outraged. Nothing new here boys! 

 

By the way the vests are bullet RESISTANT not PROOF.

[speedtripler]

56 minutes ago, tifino said:

head shot

 

 

and shoot 1st

 

If you think Thai police could routinely make a head shot I don't know what to say... 

[tifino]

3 minutes ago, speedtripler said:

 

If you think Thai police could routinely make a head shot I don't know what to say... 

maybe that is why they take him, alive...

[webfact]

UPDATE:

British journalist carrying flak jacket plates charged with arms possession in Bangkok

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A British journalist was charged with arms possession on Tuesday after being arrested at a Thai airport for checking in flak jacket plates and gas masks, standard equipment for media heading into war zones and other hostile environments.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/985814-british-journalist-carrying-flak-jacket-plates-charged-with-arms-possession-in-bangkok/

 

[ben2talk]

On 5/30/2017 at 1:36 PM, Bluespunk said:

So what do they expect a journalist to use in somewhere like Mosul. 

 

 

An amulet perhaps. 

 

Common sense is seriously lacking with regard to this "law". 

 

Rachel "worst case scenario" Harvey would have been in serious trouble  if this law had been in force back in the day.... 

Perhaps common sense is also lacking in people who enforce it. It was widely believed that in England, the law requiring everyone to do Archery practice on Sunday was never repealed, yet the police do refrain from making arrests.

 

I could understand that it might be questionable as a carry-on item, but checking in a purely defensive device is hardly applicable. What is the ulterior motive for applying this law in this context?

Edited June 1, 2017 by ben2talk

[01322521959]

3rd world thinking. Pathetic illogical decision

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