| Thai Academics Shut Down |
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| Written by Our Correspondent | |
| Monday, 12 July 2010 | |
 Warned not to air political views
Thai academics are being intimidated out of speaking out on a large scale, according to University World News, a London-based publication for academics. In an article by Yojana Sharma, published on July 11, the publication said that "broadcasting freely is no longer a simple and safe matter since the government crackdown against Red Shirt protesters in May." Radio stations have been shut down and academics have been warned by their own universities to not openly broadcast their opinions, the story said, quoting Suda Rangkupan, a lecturer in linguistics at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, who told Sharma that "Regular commentators on mainstream radio and television stations have also become more cautious although the change is sometimes subtle: ‘Many professors are reluctant to take sides, often they censor themselves. If I talk about linguistics I have to be [politically] neutral.'" Suda has considerably reduced her broadcast appearances, according to the story. Her reluctance and that of her colleagues has tended to strangle open debate given that Thai academics appear on broadcast media far more than in most other countries. "Many academics have a show on mainstream radio, especially the law and politics professors who are famous. They may be interviewed every week, once or twice a week," she said. Chulalongkorn and Thammasat Universities in the past have played major roles in dissent against the Thai military. In violence in 1973 and 1976, students and faculty were both attacked, particularly in 1976 when leftist students were attacked at Thammasat by the military. Hundreds were widely believed to have been murdered. In recent mnths, Giles Ji Ungpakorn, an associate professor at Chulalongkorn, was forced to flee the country after being charged with lese majeste for allegedly insulting King Bhumibol Adulydej. He has emerged as a spokesman for the Red shirt movement from London.Warnings against political activism are not just from the government, according to the University World News. One major university in June distributed a circular saying professors should not be "openly involved in political conflict". Chulalongkorn University in particular has sought to distance itself from comments made by its academics, distributing a letter saying they should not refer to their university affiliation when commenting on broadcast media or in interviews. "We are not allowed to say we are from Chulalongkorn. The university authorities believe people will be convinced by what we say because we have respect in society as academics of this university," Suda told the publication. Universities in Bangkok in particular have become nervous about political involvement. "'There has been more pressure on the faculty not to be involved in any [political] movement even though they have been involved for years already,' she said." She was quoted as saying "The reason I joined the Red Shirts is that it is a movement for democracy. I believe it should not be a problem. I've spent the time after work. It's nothing to do with the job. In the second week of June I found in my mailbox an official note from the head asking for cooperation from every faculty member not to talk about politics in classes and not to encourage students to join the movement." We publish the rest of the University World News story here: "Suda had her own shows on community radio stations which have been targeted by the government in the wake of the bloody crackdown in May. The stations have a broadcast radius of just five kilometres. First launched around five years ago, they have become popular and some broadcast from university campuses. "One station, Taxi Radio, was created by a group of taxi drivers and aired Suda's program on Saturdays, according to the story. Another of her shows, 'Thai Voice', was broadcast on Sundays from the outskirts of Bangkok on a station called Thais Love Thais. "It is radio for the people. It is grassroots people who listen," Suda told the publication. "I try to explain to them what is going on in this country ." Suda had used the first hour of her two-hour Sunday show to translate English-language news despatches into Thai, then left 45-60 minutes for listeners to call in. "When Thai newspapers quote English-language newspapers they distort the news. I explained to my listeners that Thai newspapers don't give the right translations," said Suda. "The listeners called in and talked about how they feel about politics. It gave them a chance to express themselves. Some of the taxi drivers would stop their cars on the way and give us a call. Sometimes they wrote a poem and read it on air." "Many of the listeners don't have very good English. They don't have the internet. Most are of the lower classes - market vendors, motorcycle and taxi drivers, and usually they are independent, not office workers. Most of them are Red Shirt supporters. Between 7 and 10 April most TV stations were shut by the authorities and the closures have accelerated since the 19 May crackdown. Radio stations that supported the Red Shirt movement have gone, including the two that broadcast Suda's programmes. "I met the DJs I used to work with at a temple one month after the bloody crackdown, to remember the dead. They said even the radio transmitters had been removed," she said. Taxi Radio was jammed as early as April before it was shut down by its owner Chinawat Haboonpak, a Red Shirt activist. "There are 5,000 to 6,000 [community radio] stations but they won't allow even one [Red Shirt] station to exist," Chinawat said. Some reported soldiers had raided broadcast stations and damaged equipment in the aftermath of the May crackdown. The government has said such radio stations have divided society, "spread lies" and urged people to commit violent acts during the protests that wracked Bangkok in April and May. Staff of the Red Shirt We Love Udon radio station were arrested in May and the station chief has been charged with terrorism. Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn described Red Shirt broadcasters as a "threat to national security". But Suda said only the radio stations that supported the democracy movements were closed whereas those run by the pro-government Yellow Shirts were still open even though they were also community radio stations. "It was very difficult for the government to let these community radio stations continue. They feared if they let us have a radio we can use it for communications, to talk and discuss and use for political purposes and they will be believed as an accurate source of media because mainstream media are always self-censored." Meanwhile, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported that more than 100,000 websites and blogs, many by academics, had been blocked, some of them simply for mentioning Ungpakorn's name. The number of people willing to speak out is dwindling by the day. Suda recently received a note from her university head of department pointing out that her subject, linguistics, had nothing to do with politics. "It is our duty as academics to help the people understand the issues, but I have decided not to show up [on media] as an academic any more. I am just a Thai person," said Suda.
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I too am absolutely amazed by the utter stupidity of Dr Tul and other so called "Academics" inside Thailand.Especially when you consider that many of these individuals are in positions of influence. They seem to expect the masses to believe their misguided opinion that the King must always be above any criticism or justice no matter what.It is a declaration in my opinion that they no longer think it is right for ordinary people to think for themselves.This train of thought is forcing Thailand to tear itself apart. Many realists can see change is essential for the future of Thailand. Blind obedience and unquestioning loyalty is what they crave and expect from their "pupils". Indoctrination ((from birth until death) by State/Military/Royal media and infomation is their goal.Their pretence is that Royalty deserve to be above everything and are by the simple fact of birth, naturally better and wiser than the masses and this should never be questioned. Alternative views on Royalty are seen as a insult to the institution.Buddist moral guidelines which some may claim teaches equality cannot even be considered above the Thai insitution it seems.This is their stance,and with views like these and of "Thainess" controlling their every thought the Lese Majeste law is used as a stick to remind them and their critics of who holds the power. Reality on the other hand tells us that LM allows the Monarchy to be untouchable,Reality reminds us that if a member of the Royal household were to commit a crime,or interfere with politics the LM law would enable complete silencing of all criticism and any objections calling for justice .To outside observers and Academics it is just plain daft to have a law like this.It does not take a genius to work out that sooner or later a law such as LM ,which allows all of the above, is someday sooner or later going to be taken full advantage of,as if it hasn't already been strecthed to the maximum, and very soon will undoubtedly lead a once bountiful country right to the edge of the abyss.
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 written by TDB , July 13, 2010
It unclear whether Thailand is slowly entering far right state, but governments are trying to make themselves more untouchable. This is more like governments are trying to imposed themselves as Royal family. This government could easily be say they're hypocrites, they are trying their best to protect the Royal Family by arresting anyone holding Thai nationality that are committing Lese Majesty crimes. Although the governments themselves are committing indirect Lese Majesty crime also, by giving themselves untouchable laws. Now for anyone, even if they love their King, but if they're insulting Abhisit, it considered a Lese Majesty crime also.
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This is the darkest moment in the Thai history. If all the Thais keep their mouths shut and do nothing about this repression, it means Thai people love to stay under the boots. I think many things will get worse under this regime.
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I have lost all respect for Chulalongkorn University as an academic institution over the past 3 or 4 months. All the academics there seem to toe the government line, or to rabidly support it!
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Speaking in support of the Yellow-shirted knuckle-draggers in The Regime is just fine. Encouraged in fact. ' On 13 April, a group of about 100 people led by Dr Tul Sitthisomwong, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, gathered at the Victory Monument. They waved Thai flags, played propaganda songs, and called on silent forces to come out to oppose the red shirts and support the government in not dissolving Parliament... Tul went on to say that, speaking as a doctor, love for the country and the king was embedded only in Thais’ DNA, not that of other peoples. It was a pity that many Thais had mutated and did not have the love for the king in their DNA and should not be called Thai, he said. ' And ridiculous, absurd statements like Tul's above go unremarked! Who knows how many people take seriously his ridiculous Thai Lysenkoism just because he is a professor at that formerly well-respected institution? Not a word on that. Disinformation is the order of the day at Chulalongkorn University. hey also selectively choose not to treat patients whose political views do not match their own. Unethical as well as irrational... academics? A lesson in English for Thai students : define oxymoron. report abuse
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