Thanks goodness, this will NEVER (?) happen here in the Philippines! For better for for worse, we have freedom of expression here in the Philippines as one of the foundations of our vibrant political democracy. I'm not taking any sides and do not know the truth behind this particular case, but a Thai comedian Yossawaris Chuklom being punished for criticizing the alleged political act of an unnamed powerful person, allegedly alluding to their monarch? This can, thankfully, never happen in our truly democratic society of the Philippines!
Here in the Philippines, a lot of us openly criticize even the bishops and primates of the Roman Catholic Church! No sacred cows here in our society, especially if you're yourselves delving into the temporal field of politics!
Pardon my lack of understanding on this issue, but sometimes I recall the words of Joker in the Batman films from Hollywood: "Why so serious?"
Our former queen---my former Ateneo economics professor and ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo---was often parodied by me in my newspaper columns. I also poked fun at then President Joseph "Erap" Estrada and also then President Fidel V. Ramos during their terms in power. Now, with our new king, the more innocuous President Noynoy C. Aquino, I've done a few humor pieces at his expense but not too much (yet).
(Images below of Thai comedian Yossawaris Chuklom sourced from bangkokpost.com)
Here's the news report I just read:
Here in the Philippines, a lot of us openly criticize even the bishops and primates of the Roman Catholic Church! No sacred cows here in our society, especially if you're yourselves delving into the temporal field of politics!
Pardon my lack of understanding on this issue, but sometimes I recall the words of Joker in the Batman films from Hollywood: "Why so serious?"
Our former queen---my former Ateneo economics professor and ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo---was often parodied by me in my newspaper columns. I also poked fun at then President Joseph "Erap" Estrada and also then President Fidel V. Ramos during their terms in power. Now, with our new king, the more innocuous President Noynoy C. Aquino, I've done a few humor pieces at his expense but not too much (yet).
(Images below of Thai comedian Yossawaris Chuklom sourced from bangkokpost.com)
Here's the news report I just read:
Thai Government Adviser Jailed for Two Years for Insulting King
By Daniel Ten Kate & Anuchit Nguyen - Jan 17, 2013 1:56 PM GMT+0800 Bloomberg News
A Thai court today sentenced a ministerial adviser, who helped lead protests in 2010 against former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, to two years in prison for insulting the royal family.
Yossawaris Chuklom, a comedian who goes by the name Jeng Dokjik, received the sentence for comments made in a speech to protesters that implied King Bhumibol Adulyadej influenced Abhisit’s decision not to dissolve the parliament, according to a court statement. Yossawaris is seeking bail and plans to appeal, his lawyer Thamrong Lakdaen said.
“His statement falsely accused the king of political interference and opposing the defendant and his group,” the court said. “His statement that his speech didn’t mean he was referring to the king is groundless.”
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who replaced Abhisit in 2011 after her party won a parliamentary majority, appointed Yossawaris in November as an adviser to the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry. Yossawaris helped lead protests by the Red Shirts, a group calling for an election that was backed by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck’s brother.
Yossawaris joins at least seven others detained in Thailand under the lese-majeste law, which mandates jail sentences as long as 15 years for defaming, insulting or threatening the king, queen, heir apparent or regent. The United Nations has criticized the law for curbing free speech as calls grow within Thailand to amend the statute.
Bhumibol, 85, assumed the throne in 1946 and serves as head of state. Thailand’s Constitution says the king “shall be enthroned in a position of revered worship and shall not be violated.”
Yossawaris told Red Shirt protesters that Abhisit refused to dissolve parliament in 2010 on the orders of an unidentified person with more power than both him and Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda, the king’s top adviser, according to the court. The speech apparently made people believe that Yossawaris was referring to the king, the court said.
More than 90 people died in the 2010 protests, which spanned 10 weeks and ended with a military crackdown. Abhisit, now the opposition leader after his party lost an election the following year, faces murder charges for his role in the dispersal.
Yossawaris Chuklom, a comedian who goes by the name Jeng Dokjik, received the sentence for comments made in a speech to protesters that implied King Bhumibol Adulyadej influenced Abhisit’s decision not to dissolve the parliament, according to a court statement. Yossawaris is seeking bail and plans to appeal, his lawyer Thamrong Lakdaen said.
“His statement falsely accused the king of political interference and opposing the defendant and his group,” the court said. “His statement that his speech didn’t mean he was referring to the king is groundless.”
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who replaced Abhisit in 2011 after her party won a parliamentary majority, appointed Yossawaris in November as an adviser to the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry. Yossawaris helped lead protests by the Red Shirts, a group calling for an election that was backed by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck’s brother.
Yossawaris joins at least seven others detained in Thailand under the lese-majeste law, which mandates jail sentences as long as 15 years for defaming, insulting or threatening the king, queen, heir apparent or regent. The United Nations has criticized the law for curbing free speech as calls grow within Thailand to amend the statute.
Bhumibol, 85, assumed the throne in 1946 and serves as head of state. Thailand’s Constitution says the king “shall be enthroned in a position of revered worship and shall not be violated.”
Yossawaris told Red Shirt protesters that Abhisit refused to dissolve parliament in 2010 on the orders of an unidentified person with more power than both him and Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda, the king’s top adviser, according to the court. The speech apparently made people believe that Yossawaris was referring to the king, the court said.
More than 90 people died in the 2010 protests, which spanned 10 weeks and ended with a military crackdown. Abhisit, now the opposition leader after his party lost an election the following year, faces murder charges for his role in the dispersal.
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