Associate Professor Giles Ji Ungpakorn, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, has been summonsed to Pathumwan police station for questioning at 13.00 hrs on Tuesday 13th January 2009. The summons was issued as a result of a complaint filed by Special Branch Police Lt Col. Pansak Sasana-anund. Professor Ungpakorn has been accused by the above individual of les majesty. No details have been given of the allegations. Such details should be revealed after the initial police interview. Professor Ungpakorn has not yet been officially charged.

Professor Ungpakorn will give a press conference outside the Pathumwan police station at 12.30 and will also be available to answer questions after the police interview.

As a political science lecturer, Professor Ungpakorn has written a number of academic articles concerning the monarchy. These can be read on his web blog: http://wdpress.blog.co.uk/  and in his book “A Coup for the Rich”. The book was withdrawn from sale by Chulalongkorn University and Thammasart University bookshops. It can be down-loaded from his weblog for free.

The Monarchy has been quoted and used by various political factions in Thailand to legitimise their actions. The most notable cases are the 19th September 2006 military coup and the illegal protests by the yellow-shirted P.A.D., which included shutting down the international airports. Les Majesty charges in Thailand are notorious for being used by different political factions to attack their opponents. Many believe that this law is actually counter-productive to defending the Monarchy. This is why it is very important that political scientists attempt to analyse the real role and nature of the Thai Monarchy in an atmosphere of freedom and democracy.

Professor Ungpakorn is prepared to fight any les majesty charges in order to defend academic freedom, the freedom of expression and democracy in Thailand.

Since this accusation was filed by a Special Branch officer, the present Democrat Party Government should be questioned about its role in this and many other cases. The new Prime Minister has stated that he wants to see a firm crackdown on les majesty. In late December, the police filed allegations of les majesty against the BBC correspondent in Bangkok, Jonathan Head. Many other cases are also pending.

What you can do

1.    Write a letter of protest/concern to Prime Minister  Abhisit Vejjajiva, Government House, Bangkok, Thailand

2.    Write a letter of protest/concern to the Ambassador, The Royal Thai Embassy, in your country.

3.    Demand that Amnesty International take up all Les Majesty cases in Thailand.

**Note**

Ji Giles Ungpakorn's Press con about " The Academic Freedom vs.Thailand's l่ese majest้ law " was changed to Chula U.,Political Sc. Faculty on Tue 13 Jan, 12.30