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One of the photographs of Rohingya supplied to Phuketwan in 2008

VIDEO Thailand's Moment of Truth

Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Australian journalist Alan Morison and his Phuketwan colleague Chutima Sidasathian exposed the plight of the Rohingya, so why are they now on trial and facing seven years in a Thai jail for reporting the truth?

Alan thought he was winding down to retirement when he moved to Phuket in 2002, but as soon as he became aware of the Rohingya's plight he had to act.

Ironically it was the Thai Navy, which now wants Alan and Chutima convicted, that first tipped them off to the Rohyinga crisis.

So concerned was the Navy about the influx of Rohingya, they even sent them photos of the refugees detained in long rows under armed guard.

Then as Alan and Chutima pursued the story, they uncovered the notorious policy of pushing refugee boats back into international waters without proper power.

''It pushed me, 'Hey this is a very good story','' Chutima tells Amos Roberts on Tuesday's Dateline. ''We have to do something, we have to help them.''

They wrote the story for their tourism news website, Phuketwan, and it was soon picked up by major media organisations. The plight of the Rohyinga fleeing persecution in Myanmar soon became global news.

Years later, a Pulitzer-prize winning article from Reuters delivered the disturbing news that some in the Thai military forces were profiting from people smugglers.

Alan and Chutima included a 41 word paragraph from the Reuters investigation in one of their stories, and it's that paragraph that has seen them on trial on charges of computer crimes and defaming the Royal Thai Navy. Reuters has not been charged.

''Is there a free press in Thailand?'' Alan is asked. ''No, that's the problem,'' he replies.

Amos spends day and night with them as they prepare for court and then he attends the trial.

He records the toll it takes on both Alan and Chutima as they contemplate the prospect of seven years in jail, just for doing their job as journalists.

''It would mean death for me at my age,'' Alan says. See the full story on Tuesday at 9.30pm on SBS.

Watch the Dateline documentary
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/story/thailands-moment-truth

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

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Alan,
The SBS broadcast was interesting. Im not sure the part referring to "webmaster" should have been included considering the verdict is still a few days away. Nice bad of fruit and dog.

Sue, I was trying to identify which loyal PW supporter was you?

Posted by MoW on August 25, 2015 19:04

Editor Comment:

Sue turned up but may have craftily avoid the cameras. For some reason, the photos taken of the two of us together failed to turn out.

The ''webmaster'' aspect of the Computer Crimes Act is appalling.

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Wish we could help these 2 great journalists for doing their job well. Nothing wrong about reporting the truth, well it should not be seen as wrong. If needed, I hope they will call for help on their website from the "expats" living in Phuket and tourists to support them at least for the "freedom of speech". Good luck to you both.

Posted by Phuket119 on August 25, 2015 19:15

Editor Comment:

Good people, Thai and non-Thai, will support us if they watched the show and see the reasons why we are taking a stand.

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Watching the broadcast any fair minded and decent person could not fail to be impressed by the sincerity and passion of you, Alan & Chutima, for the cause you have long and continue to support to the point of possible incarceration for your beliefs.
Having read the questions posed to Reuters I would have expected them to be more supportive of you and Phuketwan's use of their material but I found the comment "As part of writing our story, we asked Chutima to assist in arranging appointments for our journalists as part of our news gathering. She did not act as a Reuters journalist or stringer, and her contribution to the story was limited to arranging these appointments. We appreciate the role that local journalists like Chutima often play in assisting international news organisations like ourselves in accessing information." less than supportive of the direct accusation which remains patently absurd.
Good luck on September 1st for justice not only to be done but seen by the world to be done!

Posted by Alan on August 25, 2015 20:16

Editor Comment:

Thank you, Alan.

Reuters' approach has been more disappointing than the approach of the Royal Thai Navy. At least we know what has the Navy upset - the Reuters paragraph. And we know what the Navy stands for . . .

The key issue for Reuters, apart from its failure to defend a very good casual employee. is this:

II Reuters is eventually charged over their reporters' 41-word paragraph, they will obviously defend it. But when Phuketwan was charged over the same Reuters 41-word paragraph, the paragraph wasn't worth defending.

Journalists all over the world will be rolling on the floor at that one. Reuters' present faithful clients may not be rolling on the floor. If I was a Reuters client, I would like to know that they will always defend their journalism, not just offer ''motherhood'' statements.

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Go go Alan and Chutima , You did a great job , and nothing wrong !!!
You are innocent and the Thai court will recognise that , I'm positive .

Posted by Snoopy on August 25, 2015 20:55

Editor Comment:

Thanks, Snoopy. So are we. It's a pity Reuters is not supporting us when we face seven years' jail over their reporters' paragraph.

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Unfortunately, I was not able to watch this broadcast today.
Hope SBS will make it soon available online.

Joining all the commentators above in their opinions, the most strangest thing is lack of support by Reuters.

Would Reuters join the PW in court as a defense witness, it would certainly bring much better perspective of faster closing of this unnecessary case.

Sorry, but I wonder may be there is something personal appeared with Reuters, they got some grudge for some reason, but never told what was that and why..?
Could it be some Reuters people joined the famous ThaiVisa thread with already 41 pages "to condemn PW and AM"..?
The logic on that thread is as strange as Reuters reaction, the both are quite aligned.

MoW, I went to the Court on that day not with a purpose to show off myself, so I have moved away fast right after I was done with that why I came there.
But still, a security guard managed unsuccessfully to prevent my access to the Court builing, reprimanding me for appearing in shorts, not in longpants, as if I attempted to enter the building. He clearly was not happy to see too many farangs on doorsteps of the Court that day!

Posted by Sue on August 25, 2015 22:02

Editor Comment:

As I've said, Sue, the approach of the Royal Thai Navy is understandable, the approach of Reuters is not. Communication with PW broke off as soon as we were charged - over a Reuters paragraph. It was the kind of pathetic act perpetrated by brand protectors, and it reflects appallingly on the ''courageous'' journalism of the Reuters reporters.

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Sue,
The broadcast is still available on-line at http://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/story/thailands-moment-truth

Posted by Alan on August 25, 2015 23:18

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Hi Alan

I thought the documentary that Amos Roberts filmed certainly highlighted the compassion and bravery of both you and Khun Chutima.

Cheers

Posted by Ian Yarwood on August 26, 2015 00:16

Editor Comment:

Thanks, Ian. Khun Chutima is the brave one, I am just pretending to be brave.

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Keep my fingers crossed for you guys. You have bravely reported facts about a tragedy happening here in the 21st century.
Reuters taking part in (and benefitting from) the reporting, should have fully supporting PW on their and your mutual content. Failure doing so makes them partly responsible for your possible faith. On top Reuters accepting a Pullitzer Prize while then letting you down; merely disgusting. My best wishes for the outcome on September.

Posted by Pink Glasses on August 26, 2015 01:07

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Sue,
He probably saw those kicking tools as a threat to the expected rough justice. Next time you will have to place them in holsters.

Interesting that both you and the prosecutor were absent on days 2 and 3!

Posted by MoW on August 26, 2015 03:38

Editor Comment:

Actually, to set the record straight, I believe Sue turned up on Day Two.

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Thanks to Bob Dylan, I feel the answers lie in this song;- Missing the first verse....

How many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
How many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
How many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
How many deaths will it take 'til he knows
That too many people have died?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Alan and Chutima may the winds blow the verdict of a full pardon for you both, freedom.

Posted by Robin on August 26, 2015 23:34

Editor Comment:

Thanks, Robin. There are also some appropriate verses in Leonard Cohen's song, 'Everybody Knows.'

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Hi, Is there any update on this at all?

Posted by Antonio on August 27, 2015 08:11


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