[Tlc] T-press release

[justinm at ucr.edu]

Forwarded from Dr. Thongchai Winichakul.
Thanks,
justin

PRESS RELEASE:

March 4, 2009



International Scholars Call for Reform of Thailand’s Lese Majeste Law



Over fifty international scholars and dignitaries have signed a letter to 
the Thai Prime Minister calling for reform of the lese majeste law. The 
letter comes after a spate of lese majeste cases in Thailand and moves by 
the Thai government to restrict internet discussion of the royal family.



The letter urges the Thai government to consider the following:



1.      Please stop seeking more suppressive measures against individuals, 
web sites, and the peaceful expressions of ideas.

2.      Please consider suggestions to reform the lese majeste law to 
prevent further abuses and to prevent the possibility of further damage to 
the international reputation of Thailand and the monarch.

3.      Please consider taking action to withdraw the current lese majeste 
charges, and working to secure the release of those already convicted under 
the lese majeste law. They are charged for expressing their ideas. This 
should not be a crime.



The letter argues that “frequent abuse of the lese majeste law against 
political opponents undermines democratic processes” and generates 
“heightened criticism of the monarchy and Thailand itself, both inside and 
outside the country.”



Signatories to the letter include:



-         World leaders in human rights and civil liberties, such as Lord 
Eric Avebury, Dr. Caroline Lucas, Senator Francesco Martone, Smitu Kothari, 
Walden Bello;

-         Prominent scholars who are famous throughout the academic world 
across fields and disciplines like Noam Chomsky, Stuart Hall, Arjun 
Appadurai, Jim Scott, Arif Dirlik, Stanley Tambiah, Immanuel Wallerstein, 
and many more;

-         Several Fellows of the British Academy, and the American Academy 
of Arts and Sciences;

-         Presidents, former presidents and leaders of several 
internationally prestigious academic associations, namely the Associations 
for Asian Studies , the American Political Science Association, the American 
Sociological Association, the Asian Studies Association of Australia, and 
more;

-         Leading legal scholars such as a former judge in the International 
Court of Justice, a former President of the Australian and New Zealand 
Society of International Law, and leading scholars on human rights law;

-         Leading international scholars of Southeast Asia and Thailand in 
many fields including political science, history, anthropology, literature, 
geography, economics, environmental studies, most of whom have long term 
experience in Thailand and the region.



Additional signatories are currently being collected. The letter will be 
delivered to the Honorable Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in late March or 
early April. Those who want to include their name on the letter are invited 
to send their name, title/ rank/position and affiliation to one of the 
following “Coordinators” of this campaign.



Thongchai Winichakul, Professor, Department of History, University of 
Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA. twinicha at wisc.edu



Andrew Walker, Senior Fellow, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, 
The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. 
andrew.walker at anu.edu.au



Jim Glassman, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, University of 
British Columbia, 217 - 1984 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2 Canada. 
nmsslg at yahoo.ca



Larry Lohmann, The Corner House, Station Road, Sturminster Newton, Dorset 
DT10 1YJ, United Kingdom. larrylohmann at gn.apc.org



Adadol Ingawanij, Post-doctoral Researcher, Centre for Research and 
Education in Arts and Media, University of Westminster, Harrow Campus, UK. 
M.Ingawanij at westminster.ac.uk





The web site New Mandala http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala will be the 
“window” of this campaign, and will provide updated news and information on 
the progress of the campaign.


______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu
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