Dissenting Thai Professor flees to England
Posted on 10. Feb, 2009 by admin in Academic Freedom, News
Giles Ji Ungpakorn, a prominent Thai professor who has joint British and Thai nationality fled Thailand yesterday (Monday 9 February). Ungpakorn is facing the charge of “lese majesty” – offence against the monarchy – for his book A Coup for the Ric, in which he criticises the 2006 military coup.
From the UK Guardian:
Giles Ji Ungpakorn, 54, arrived in England at the weekend after being charged under the laws. He had been due to present himself to the police in Bangkok today and could have faced 15 years in jail if found guilty.
“I did not believe I would receive a fair trial,” said Ungpakorn, an associate professor of political science at Chulalongkom University and a contributor to the New Statesman and Asian Sentinel.”
Academics from the UK, India, South Africa, Turkey, France, Greece, Poland, Canada, Australia and other countries have protested at his being charged.
Read a statement from concerned academics calling for the lese majesty charges to be dropped.
