Thai royalist files lèse majesté complaint against Andrew McGregor Marshall

A Thai royalist on Tuesday filed a lèse majesté complaint against Andrew McGregor Marshall , former Reuters journalist, for writing books and articles allegedly defaming the King.
 
According to the ultra-royalist Chaopraya News blog, Wanthongchai Chamnankit filed the complaint with the Technology Crime Suppression Division. 
 
He accused Marshall of writing a book and running nine websites whose content violated Article 112 (the lèse majesté law), Article 116 (on instigating an uprising) of the Criminal Code, and Article 14 of the Computer Crime Act (for publishing illegal content on a computer system), among others. 
 
Wanthongchai also urged the TCSD and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) to immediately block any site which publishes Marshall’s works.
 
In mid-November, the Thai police announced the banning of Marshall’s ‘A Kingdom in Crisis’ due to lèse majesté content.
 
‘A Kingdom Crisis: Thailand’s Struggle for Democracy in the Twenty-First Century’ is written by Marshall, the author of ‘Zen Journalist’, a controversial blog on Thailand’s socio-political issues. The book talks about Thailand’s deep political divide between the pro-establishment yellow shirts and anti-establishment red shirts, including references to the revered Thai monarchy. It also discusses the succession in terms of the anxiety it creates for Thai royalists.
 
Those who distribute or carry the book can receive up to three years’ jail term and a fine of 60,000 baht (1,827 USD).
 
Marshall’s blog has been blocked by the MICT because of alleged lèse majesté content.
 
 

Since 2007, Prachatai English has been covering underreported issues in Thailand, especially about democratization and human rights, despite the risk and pressure from the law and the authorities. However, with only 2 full-time reporters and increasing annual operating costs, keeping our work going is a challenge. Your support will ensure we stay a professional media source and be able to expand our team to meet the challenges and deliver timely and in-depth reporting.

• Simple steps to support Prachatai English

1. Bank transfer to account “โครงการหนังสือพิมพ์อินเทอร์เน็ต ประชาไท” or “Prachatai Online Newspaper” 091-0-21689-4, Krungthai Bank

2. Or, Transfer money via Paypal, to e-mail address: [email protected], please leave a comment on the transaction as “For Prachatai English”