Opinion

15 May 2008
The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to present the speech given by Mr. John J. Clancey, Chairperson of the Asian Human Rights Commission at the Awards Ceremony for the Asian Human Rights Defender Award 2008.
8 May 2008
The cyclone hit and junta’s handling in the aftermath has even intensified and justified the opposition struggle against the ruling Thatmadaw and its desperately-determined referendum Saturday. Maung Maung, secretary general of the National Council of Union of Burma--- an anti-junta umbrella organization including ethnic groups, has called for a real sanction concertedly coordinated by the international community.
7 May 2008
On Tuesday morning, Oct 5, 1976, an ultra-rightist group called the ‘Housewives Club’ held a demonstration at the Royal Plaza to protest the government in light of the crisis caused by Field Marshal Thanom’s return.  The protest went on until almost the afternoon when someone raised the issue of a photograph of a re-enactment that had been staged by Thammasat students at noon of the previous day, Oct 4.  This portrayed the hanging of two electricians in Nakhon Pathom who had been protesting against Thanom.  A photograph of the scene was published on the front page of the Bangkok Post the following day.  The protesters claimed that the face of one of the students who took the role of a hanged electrician resembled that of the Crown Prince, and accused the students of lèse majesté.
5 May 2008
The royal anthem was first played in entertainment venues in Siam before the 1932 revolution. According to State Ceremony of Siam, which describes ceremonial affairs during the reign of Rama VII, prior to the democratization of Siam, an elderly lady failed to rise at the royal anthem and was arrested by police.  Prince Phra Nakhonsawan Vorapinit who was present at the arrest ordered the immediate release of the woman. He reasoned that standing is a Western custom, and it had just recently been adopted here; the lady did no wrong in not rising.
2 May 2008
Thailand's most powerful political and social "hammer" may be the kingdom's lese majeste law. The law, expressed in Article 112 of the Criminal Code, states, "Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be punished (with) imprisonment of three to fifteen years."
29 Apr 2008
Respect for the monarchy has become a crucial issue in Thai society in light of the human mortality of His Majesty King Bhumibol. Thailand is not unique in having lèse majesté law.
25 Apr 2008
A well-known Thai historian points out that the practice of standing for the Royal Anthem in Thai theatres was adopted from Britain about a hundred years ago, and was long dropped by the British people.
23 Apr 2008
This article was submitted to the Nation on Monday 22 April 2008, but the newspaper apparently decided not to publish it, although the Bangkok Post ran a similar front page story on Wednesday. Mr. Pravit also asked for a reason from his supervisor and was told that a higher authority had made decision that publication 'carries a certain risk'
20 Apr 2008
A state which declares itself a legal state has to accept the role of the judiciary to maintain checks and balances on the execution of power by the legislative and executive branches. To control the latter, the judiciary is responsible for deliberating on the legality of any administrative action, and to control the former, to consider the constitutionality of any legislation passed by parliament
19 Apr 2008
The tragic deaths last week of 54 Burmese workers who suffocated in a cold storage container packed with 121 victims of human trafficking would most likely have been avoided if Thailand had a more lenient and practical policy towards registration of migrant workers from Laos, Cambodia and Burma.
19 Apr 2008
On the morning of 10th March, as I stood at the Lanzhou University Square, Gansu province in south-west China, what was noticeable was a steady stream of ochre and red robed Tibetan monks boarding buses out to Xiahe. This flurry of activity did not seem unusual, given the proximity of Gannan Tibetan prefecture (area), renowned as "Small Tibet" with Xiahe county ( district) the seat of the famous Labrang Lamasery.
9 Apr 2008
It’s an ordinary Friday morning. You leave your office on Rachadapisek Road at 9 a.m. to meet a client at Robinson Department Store, Bangrak. Accompanied by your assistant, you drive along the expressway and park your car at the South Bangkok Civil Court where you instruct your assistant to deliver some documents to another client.

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