BBC Reporter Jonathan Head Could Face 15 Years In Thai Jail

BANGKOK, Thailand - A group that campaigns for journalists' rights called on Thai police Thursday to drop complaints against a British Broadcasting Corp. journalist accused of slandering the country's king.

BBC correspondent Jonathan Head has been accused of insulting the monarchy, or lese-majeste, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Three complaints were lodged by police Lt. Col. Wattanasak Mungkandee, who said he was acting in a personal capacity.

Authorities have yet to decide whether to formally charge Head.

"It is time for prosecutors and investigators in Thailand to immediately drop these outrageous and punitive charges against our colleague Jonathan Head," said Bob Dietz of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. "Head's reporting has raised important questions about Thailand's deteriorating political situation and he should be allowed to report without fear of official reprisals."

One complaint is related to a Dec. 3 article in which Head speculated about the relationship between the palace and the anti-government protest group that took over Bangkok's main international and domestic airports for eight days.

In the earlier complaint in May, Wattanasak submitted as evidence 11 articles from the BBC Web site, even though some were not written by Head. He also submitted a photograph of Head shaking hands with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra before an interview in late 2001.

Thaksin, accused of corruption and abuse of power, was ousted by a September 2006 military coup. His critics also accused him of trying to usurp royal power and being disrespectful to the king.

The BBC, one of the world's major newsgathering organizations, has in the past described the allegations as "completely unfounded."

When reached by phone Thursday, Head said the BBC had no further comment.

The majority of Thais greatly revere 81-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej. However, insulting the monarchy, a crime known as lese-majeste, is sometimes used for political purposes to smear its targets.

Wattanasak said he was acting on behalf of Thais who have come to him complaining about Head's coverage.

"As a Thai, I made a decision that I had to do something to let foreign reporters know that Thais are not happy with those who write something bad about our royal family," Wattanasak told The Associated Press.

Comments

[Smile2009]

The laws he is being investigated for are archaic but even the King knows that and most people are pardoned by him
On the other hand Thailand does not want foreign journalists here who report news incorrectly. I have seen the BBC reports and interviews with him. They are totally false.
Jonathan Head, who knows Thaksin well, is rumored to be on the payroll.
He chose the wrong side. He made up his stories and everyone here knows it. As well as that he was probably paid for it. He should be deported and banned from this country for life. He is a perfect example of a corrupt reporter spinning the truth, something I thought the readers of this blog are against. However I see some are not.
My best advice make some investigatons into the background of the stories before you post and finally do not think Thai people are all stupid or corrupt. They are not. To insult the King as one stupid commenter did is really dumb. If he is like Stalin then how would you describe Bush?
I have lived in Thailand 28 years and it even insults me when some ignoramus makes such a comment.

[jfs6357]

Can the Thai government extradite him from the UK?

And if he's not in the UK now, why wouldn't he simply return where he would be protected by the government?

This a free speech, first amendment issue. Granted he doesn't fall under the US jurisdiction and doesn't have our laws to protect him, but surely the UK has similar outlines in its Constitution.

[bavb63]

yet another reason to stay OUT of Thailand! all these cultures have freedom to do what they want when they come here but don't cross your eyes at noon there or you'll end up in prison. gotta love the 3rd world.

[borderorder]

King George is now wishing he had taken French in high school.

[mapleaforever]

Someone better check Buckingham Palace's guard uniform inventory. I think there's one missing.

What's with all the medals? I haven't seen a boy scout with that many merit badges -- all earned, I'm sure. Hey, I don't have a green one -- get me a green one, or else.

[78Thomas]

I beleive many commenters here are displaying a lack of understanding to this cultural issue.
By comparing this lese-majeste issue to slavery is apples and oranges. If you do not have an understanding of thai culture, beleive me, it shows.

This is not a black and white issue that many are making it to be. Lets understand there is gray matter.

This BBC reporter should know the nuances of the society he/she is reporting from. There are many ways the BBC couldn've made this report with a degree of non-imperialistic "I'm from a western nation and all other societies will be judged against ours, we really do know best" finger in eye.
Having a reporter reside in thailand and publish this report, well....ge­e...what did he expect?!?
You've seen the governmental protests, so there is plenty of expression going on in thailand.

BBC should be a bit smarter than mentioning the king and the reporter residing in thailand.

[mexamerican]

there's no cultural "nuance" required when trying to report the truth.

[missjasmine]

humpf, ... that should put him in his liberal, disrespectful, gotcha journalist place!

[SpaghettyIrish]

What has the Thai King done to earn all this adulation? Not being sarcastic, I'm actually curious.
Answers, please?

[palinater08]

He brought out the monarchy into the public. Instead of sitting on the throne as another wealthy monarch, he brought about infrastructure and was a problem solver. He went to work for the poor and working class of Thailand. He implemented several agricultural techniques. He valued his subjects, and in return they adored him. It's not to say that there isn't controversy surrounding him with some things, but he went to work where the otherwise corrupt government did not, and for that they love him. There is a lot more he has done, but even during his 80th birthday, there was a huge celebratio­n...heads of state from all over the world joined him...it was an event not to be missed in Thailand.

[robertsandimas]

Good points, palinatero8. I lived in Thailand for two years a LONG time ago and saw that the king and queen were "hands on." They didn't sit behind the palace walls. If disaster struck (as in a horrible flood where I lived), they were there passing out food and equipment needed to survive. He even said Hi to me, since I was the only Western face in the crowd.

[geobushono]

he's the king. It's good to be king. he was born into it....that­'s what kings do.

[bbkingfavor]

I have read all post below this,actually this is a good open end question. King for foreigner is far different than one for thai people, also do some research or visit thailand will make you get it more.

[stagebandman]

Reporters, more than anyone, should know that it is not one world, and you have to accept, respect, and adjust to the morals and laws of whatever country you are visiting. I'm actually surprised that this was not an American journalist. This guy should have known better. I do hope that the Thai government shows mercy, but their idea of human rights is not the same as ours.

Come on, people, didn't any of you ever watch Star Trek?

[TheBlackCat]

I hope no one here gives any money to National Geographic and Amnesty International. They've been reporting on Thailand's violation of basic human rights by denying free speech for years.

Obviously, most posters here feel that cultural traditions outweigh International Law and basic human rights.

I'm glad you guys weren't in charge in the 1800s; We'd still have slaves because you'd say it was part of the cultural fabric of the South.

[palinater08]

I don't think anybody here who is defending Thailand believes that free speech shouldn't be allowed. It is not the monarchy who enforces these laws, it is the government. I think people should be able to give a critical analysis of the situation, and I'm not chastising the reporter, however the cultural context of the situation trumps everything, whether you agree with it or not. And Thai people in general would never chastise the king, merely out of admiration, not out of fear. Believe me, when the King dies, and his son is reigning, you'll start to hear all kinds of criticism.

[palinater08]

So would you say it's fine to go to Thailand and point your feet at people, or touch them on the head because it's your basic human right to do so?

[mexamerican]

huh?

[TheBlackCat]

Thailand's suprression of free speech is in violation to international law Defending this violation is no different from defending any other nation which violates human rights. Human rights and international law trump cultural norms.

From Amnesty International:

The Thai government should remove restrictions on free speech contained in today’s emergency decree, Amnesty International said.

“The government is ultimately responsible for the security of all Thai citizens, regardless of their political views,” said Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International’s researcher on Thailand. “But the government should not use this state of emergency to silence free speech or infringe on other human rights.”

“International law is clear that even under a state of emergency people have the right to voice their opinions on all issues affecting them - including on the emergency decree itself - and to articulate viewpoints that differ from those of the government or groups they oppose”.

In addition, the government should limit the decree’s current restriction on freedom to assembly to only the areas in Bangkok most affected by the ongoing protests and stand-off among the various political groups.

“These demonstrations and counter-de­monstratio­ns show that many Thai people are frustrated with the lack of respect for the rule of law and the lack of accountability. So what is ultimately needed is greater accountability, upholding the rule of law, and more respect for civil and political rights,” Zawacki said.

[bbkingfavor]

We are not suppessed for free speech, we do consider person from all the work that he did for the country. It is about helping and educating your people in the third world country, which no one came for help. Also we think before spliting anything out of our mouth, it does not mean we are not allowed to, but it mean we more concern about how our speech attack people.

[TheBlackCat]

Free speech is a human right. It is recognized as a BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.

Human rights supercede cultural norms. They always have. Yes cultural differences ABSOLUTELY should be respected, even if they seem silly to us in our arrogance. Unless those cultural differences violate human rights, in which case we should fight them with every breath in our body.

That is why Harriet Tubman is considered a hero for sneaking slaves into the north, even though she did this by completely violating the long established and engrained cultural and legal norms of the South. Was she just being a disrepsectful Northerner to you people?


It sounds like most posters here need to start writing angry letters to Amnesty International. They've been reporting on human rights abuses by the Thai government, especially in relation to free speech, for years.

[TheBlackCat]

I completely understand the reverence the people have of the king, and that he is a genuinely beloved monarch. He's not Kim Jong Il.

But human rights are human rights, and no cultural differences excuse their supression. Free speech is a basic human right.

I am just shocked at the number of people who think this reporter is just some arrogant Westerner who ignored local customs.

I'm sure this reporter was well aware that he was putitng his life and liberty on the line when reporting anything that wasn't 100% positive about the king. Reporters die and are jailed all over the world every year in an effort to shine beacons of truth on nation's without free speech. They don't do this out of ARROGANCE, they do it to make sure we know what's GOING ON IN THE WORLD, not just what governments TELL us what's going on.


I don't care how wonderful and popular this king is, he is not perfect, he is not a god, and people should be allowed to question his actions without fear of jail.

Human rights should supercede ANY culture, and thank God for people who are brave enough to break local laws in order to fight for human rights.


Were Northern abolishionists sneaking slaves into north simply arrogant to you folks? After all, they were violating not only the law but long held and widely revered societal norms of another culture?

[palinater08]

Perhaps you don't care, but Thai people do. What's more important, the will of a people who have a long history of self worth and culture, or the will of what the western world imposes on a nation. I realize there are a lot of nations out there that are not doing the right thing, i.e. Burma, North Korea, but Thailand is not one of these countries, and rarely jails anyone, especially westerners for lese mejeste. He will most likely be pardoned and sent on his way. Thais are not fearful of saying something bad about the king because of their overwhelming adoration for him, thus wouldn't say anything bad in the first place. I know westerners find this awkward, but that's the way it is.

[bascombe]

a french name for a thai crime. colonialism lives!

[palinater08]

Thailand was never colonized, and lese mejeste has a term in Thai. This is the international term we use in English. Research my friend!

[BryantG]

When in Thailand:

You dont touch people on the head.
You don't point your feet at people.
You never day anything bad about the Monarchy.

Doesn't everyone know these things.

[athenasword]

I would hope that people at least read that much of their guide books! If you are in Thailand longer than one week, these are things you are expected to know.

[TheBlackCat]

Yeah, and if reporters followed the rules of countries which restrict free speech, we would never be aware of any human rights abuses anywhere. Your mentality is the lifeblood of tyrants.

Respecting cultural customs like not touching people on the head is completely different than a reporter simply reporting on the monarchy. Have you even READ the articles he penned?

Free speech is a basic human right that ALL people should be afforded. It's not simply a cultural difference like not pointing feet that should be respected.

Harriet Tubman went down into the south and broke local laws and customs and norms to bring slaves into the north and to freedom.

Some cultural differences should be revered and respected.

And some we should fight against with every breath in our bodies.

Thank God for reporters who are willing to risk their life and liberty around the world to bring the truth to men.

[TheBlackCat]

And when in Afghanistan in 2000:

Don't give women any manner of medical treatment

And when in South Africa in 1985:

Don't let black people work or live freely


What's your point? Free speech is a human right. Are you saying cultural traditions OUTWEIGH human rights?