By Piergiorgio MoroOn the 20th of January, Giles Ji Ungpakorn was charged with Lese Majeste - ie. offending the dignity of the monarchy - for a book he published in 2007.
If found guilty, Giles faces a heavy prison sentence of up to 15 years.
Giles was charged with Lese Majeste because of 8 paragraphs in Chapter 1 of the book 'A Coup for the Rich'.
Associate Professor Giles Ji Ungpakorn is a lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
Giles is a political commentator and has been involved in social movements in Thailand for many years on the side of labour and the poor of Thailand.
In the political unrests of 2008, Giles' social commentary was again very clear in exposing the role of the military and the elites in organising the protests.
The Lese Majeste law is quite clearly aimed at suppressing dissent in Thailand. It is now used by the present government to target its critics.
The Lese Majeste law mainly targets people and organisations that criticise the social order, and organise, in favour of workers and the poor.
It is important to defend activists like Giles Ji Ungpakorn.
You can:
For further information see:
- Write letters of support to Ji, ji.ungpakorn@gmail.com
- Pass motions of support at your union
- Write letters of protests to the Thai government c/o Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Government House, Bangkok, Thailand. Fax number +66(0)29727751
- Write letters of protest to your local embassy/consulate
- Publicise this case among your networks
Yours in Solidarity
Piergiorgio Moro
Union Convenor
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Australia Asia Worker Links
PO Box 45 Carlton South Victoria 3053 Australia
Tel: + 61 3 9663 7277 Email: aawl@aawl.org.au Web: aawl.org.au
ABN: 82 920 590 967 Inc Assn No: A1318
