Bangkok Library Digital library and information center for Bangkok, Thailand

Thai man arrested for Facebook post about monarchy (AFP)

BANGKOK — Thai authorities have arrested and charged an anti-government "Red Shirt" sympathiser for allegedly insulting the kingdom's royal family on Facebook, police said Friday.

Wipas Raksakulthai, 37, was arrested at his home in eastern Rayong province on Thursday accused of violating the country's lese majeste legislation with a posting on the social networking website last month.

Australian documentary on Thai royals sparks outrage
Fri, Apr 16, 2010
AFP

SYDNEY - Thailand has protested to the Australian government over the airing of a documentary critical of the Thai royal family and warned that the broadcast could affect ties between the nations.

A senior representative from the Thai embassy met with officials from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday to express his concern at the programme aired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

"The concern is that it might affect the good relations between Thailand and Australia, especially the people to people relations," Saksee Phromyothi, minister-counsellor at the Royal Thai Embassy, told AFP.

"We consider this an issue matter of national security... because the royal family, the monarchy, in our constitution is above politics."

Thailand's ambassador designate Kriangsak Kittichaisaree has also written to ABC managing director Mark Scott to complain about the programme which could breach Thailand's lese-majeste laws which prohibit criticism of the royals.

King Prajadhipok Museum is one of those places that I had passed many times but never entered. The building looked interesting (it was designed by a foreigner and was meant to be a tailor’s store), but I felt that I would be less than interested by the subject matter especially when there are serious limitations on what can and cannot be discussed in Thailand regarding the monarchy. Despite these reservations, when I eventually visited in February of this year I found the museum very attractive and there was enough information provided for me to form my own opinion on this notable figure in Thailand.