PHUKET: With HMS Daring now visiting Thailand, the Editor of Phuketwan has asked the British Navy to withdraw its support for Thailand's Navy until onerous charges that attack media freedom are withdrawn.
The Royal Thai Navy should be making war on genocide in Burma, not journalists, he says.
January 15
email to
British Ambassador Mark Kent
Mr Ambassador,
Could I draw your attention please to the article linked below and the Open Letter to the Chiefs of Four Allied Navies - Britain, the US, Australia and New Zealand?
As you will see, the letter calls on the British Navy to cease making visits to Thailand and end its support in Thailand until such time as the Royal Thai Navy withdraws an intimidating court action - employing both criminal defamation and the Computer Crimes Act - against me and another journalist.
The concept of the military suing the media should be anathema to all right-thinking naval officers, especially as this case is so closely linked to the continuing genocide of the Rohingya people in Burma.
As Thai Navy officers may need to be reminded, the allied forces of Britain and other nations tried to obliterate genocide in World War II. It is my belief that all good soldiers and sailors should continue to take a stand against genocide, not journalists.
I understand the visit of HMS Daring may have been organised too far in advance for this Open Letter to have achieved the impact it deserves.
I now humbly request that the Open Letter's contents are passed on at your earliest convenience to the Royal Navy's First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, and senior officers now visiting Thailand, and that British visits cease until these charges are withdrawn.
Yours sincerely,
Alan Morison
editor
Phuketwan.com
January 4, 2014
The Chief of the Australian Navy -
Vice Admiral Ray Griggs AO
The Secretary of the Navy, United States -
Ray Mabus
The Chief of Defence Staff, Great Britain -
General Sir Nick Houghton
Chief of Navy, NZ Defence Force -
Rear Admiral Jack Steer
Gentlemen,
As four women who support peace, not war, we are pleading for your help. Our brother Alan Morison, who has been working as a journalist in Thailand, is being sued for criminal defamation by a captain on behalf of the Royal Thai Navy.
The captain is also using the Computer Crimes Act, an outrageous law designed to sink free speech and all it means. We ask your help because this is all about democracy. We believe the reputable navies of the world all support free speech and a free media in a free world.
We are peace loving sisters but our father John Morison went to World War II to fight for democracy in the Pacific and both our grandfathers fought in World War I at Gallipoli. One grandfather was wounded and shipped home, the other went on to the Western Front where he was gassed.
Our brother Alan was ready to fight in Vietnam. As a family, we've done our bit for the free world and democracy. Now Alan, it appears, is being condemned by the Royal Thai Navy for his award-winning work writing about the Rohingya, a stateless people who are being subjected to genocide in Burma and forced to flee to the sea.
We are certain we don't have to tell you gentlemen about genocide, or why WWII was fought. Thailand, you will recall, is where thousands of Allies died during that same war on the Burma railway, the Death railway.
We would hate to think they died in vain and that the lessons of democracy have not been learned in Thailand, of all places. But that appears to be the case.
It's understood in all democracies that no military should be beyond criticism. No military should be a law unto itself.
In defence of our brother, the United Nations human rights representative, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance, the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand and Australia's Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance have all called on the Royal Thai Navy to withdraw its criminal defamation action.
Because you four gentlemen understand so well the parallel roles of the military and the media in a democracy, we ask all of you to please suggest that the Royal Thai Navy calls off this inappropriate court action. If the action is not brought to an end, we suggest you suspend all military cooperation with Thailand until such time as this action against free speech and democracy is halted.
Yours respectfully in peace,
Jenny Braddy,
Cathy Schmierer
Jill Morison
Lisa Kovaleff
The Royal Thai Navy should be making war on genocide in Burma, not journalists, he says.
January 15
email to
British Ambassador Mark Kent
Mr Ambassador,
Could I draw your attention please to the article linked below and the Open Letter to the Chiefs of Four Allied Navies - Britain, the US, Australia and New Zealand?
As you will see, the letter calls on the British Navy to cease making visits to Thailand and end its support in Thailand until such time as the Royal Thai Navy withdraws an intimidating court action - employing both criminal defamation and the Computer Crimes Act - against me and another journalist.
The concept of the military suing the media should be anathema to all right-thinking naval officers, especially as this case is so closely linked to the continuing genocide of the Rohingya people in Burma.
As Thai Navy officers may need to be reminded, the allied forces of Britain and other nations tried to obliterate genocide in World War II. It is my belief that all good soldiers and sailors should continue to take a stand against genocide, not journalists.
I understand the visit of HMS Daring may have been organised too far in advance for this Open Letter to have achieved the impact it deserves.
I now humbly request that the Open Letter's contents are passed on at your earliest convenience to the Royal Navy's First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, and senior officers now visiting Thailand, and that British visits cease until these charges are withdrawn.
Yours sincerely,
Alan Morison
editor
Phuketwan.com
Open Letter to the Chiefs of Four Allied Navies
January 4, 2014
The Chief of the Australian Navy -
Vice Admiral Ray Griggs AO
The Secretary of the Navy, United States -
Ray Mabus
The Chief of Defence Staff, Great Britain -
General Sir Nick Houghton
Chief of Navy, NZ Defence Force -
Rear Admiral Jack Steer
Gentlemen,
As four women who support peace, not war, we are pleading for your help. Our brother Alan Morison, who has been working as a journalist in Thailand, is being sued for criminal defamation by a captain on behalf of the Royal Thai Navy.
The captain is also using the Computer Crimes Act, an outrageous law designed to sink free speech and all it means. We ask your help because this is all about democracy. We believe the reputable navies of the world all support free speech and a free media in a free world.
We are peace loving sisters but our father John Morison went to World War II to fight for democracy in the Pacific and both our grandfathers fought in World War I at Gallipoli. One grandfather was wounded and shipped home, the other went on to the Western Front where he was gassed.
Our brother Alan was ready to fight in Vietnam. As a family, we've done our bit for the free world and democracy. Now Alan, it appears, is being condemned by the Royal Thai Navy for his award-winning work writing about the Rohingya, a stateless people who are being subjected to genocide in Burma and forced to flee to the sea.
We are certain we don't have to tell you gentlemen about genocide, or why WWII was fought. Thailand, you will recall, is where thousands of Allies died during that same war on the Burma railway, the Death railway.
We would hate to think they died in vain and that the lessons of democracy have not been learned in Thailand, of all places. But that appears to be the case.
It's understood in all democracies that no military should be beyond criticism. No military should be a law unto itself.
In defence of our brother, the United Nations human rights representative, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance, the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand and Australia's Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance have all called on the Royal Thai Navy to withdraw its criminal defamation action.
Because you four gentlemen understand so well the parallel roles of the military and the media in a democracy, we ask all of you to please suggest that the Royal Thai Navy calls off this inappropriate court action. If the action is not brought to an end, we suggest you suspend all military cooperation with Thailand until such time as this action against free speech and democracy is halted.
Yours respectfully in peace,
Jenny Braddy,
Cathy Schmierer
Jill Morison
Lisa Kovaleff
Ed, do you really think the British Navy give two hoots about Thalland 's attack on free speech and democracy.
First I would have to argue whether Thailand every actually achieved a democracy and whether free speech was ever truly available.
Yes, you can beat around the bush and suggest what may be going on, who is responsible, what may have occurred or more likely did occur but without open government, we can only assume.
Ever considered the action of the Thai navy is just the easiest way to keep you quiet? Far easier than having to address the issues!
Do you really think that such action taken by a subordinate didn't have senior approval. I doubt it very much.
Now the issue of democracy is just a facade. A democracy can only be achieved where the people are willing to obey and take ownership of it.
A country so divided and where the defeated party will never accept the results is not democratic.
The democrats will never rule Thailand by popular election because they are too focused on the removal of Thaksin.
It must really get under their skin that someone who has not stepped foot in the country for 5 years, is apparently corrupt to the core and is in the democrats opinion the cause of the whole of Thailands problems, is still more popular and would win an election against any opposition at any present time.
The problems of Thailand can best be summarised by one of the PDRC speakers today
"Some degree(of corruption) people tolerate", Mr Seri shouted. " but Thaksin went overboard. We will not tolerate his actions again.''
Maybe we need details of the PDRC's acceptable corruption schedule so we know what level is acceptable and what level is not
Posted by Manowar on January 15, 2014 20:48