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Action Alert: Support Sulak Sivaraksa in lèse-majesté case May 2007
Last year, as urban opposition to the autocratic rule of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra grew in strength, his government fought back with groundless lawsuits and accusations of lèse majesté against critics and political opponents. Later, after he was deposed in September 2006 by a coup staged by old-line conservatives he too was charged with lèse majesté. Along the way, the Buddhist activist and social critic Sulak Sivaraksa became a victim of the political gamesmanship.
In August, 2006, Sulak Sivaraksa was charged with lèse majesté after he criticized the Thaksin administration in an interview with Fah Diew Kan (Same Sky) magazine. In September, one day prior to a coup against the Thaksin government, another charge was filed over a 2005 article in Seeds of Peace. These vengeful acts are attempts to silence Sulak's sharp tongue and his championing of oppressed groups in Thai society.
What You Can Do
1. Personalize this sample letter and send to the Thai Prime Minister (address in letter heading).
2. Send Copies to the Cc: addresses at bottom of letter.
3. Share this information with your Sangha.
About Sulak: http://www.sulak-sivaraksa.org/web/sulak1.php
Lèse majesté laws on trial in Thailand (Asian Times, most detailed & informative) Laws to protect Thai royalty stifle discourse (Christian Science Monitor) Sulak asks that charges be dropped (April 6, 2007) Use of lèse-majesté as political tool slammed (April 23, 2006) Tolerance: a mark of true strength by Bangkokian (6 December, 2005) Thaksin clears 1st legal hurdle: Prosecutors cite lack of evidence of malicious intent; critic says decision should be reviewed (Wed April 11 2007) The case of Ven. Supoj Suvajano: why doesn't the Thai government pursue his killers? http://www.liberationpark.org/news/supoj/supoj.htm
Thanks to Santikaro for compiling this webpage.
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