The top U.S. diplomat in East Asia faces some difficult talks in Thailand this week. Critics say the military rulers in Bangkok are using laws on the books to prosecute political rivals—and anyone who speaks out against the government. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.
In Thailand, freedom of speech is relative. Insulting the king or the royal family can mean jail time - up to fifteen years on each count. This week comes news of a man being charged for insulting the king’s dog. Agence France Presse reports the man wrote a Facebook post about the king’s dog that was intended to be “satirical”…but authorities failed to see the humor.
In Thailand this dog is famous—an adopted stray named “Tongdaeng” or “Copper.” The king has written a book about her - and this year a popular movie features an animated version of the dog. But critics say the use of the law about royal insults has spiraled out of control…and has become a mechanism for the military government to curtail political freedom of speech.
Even the US ambassador has been investigated under that law. This is the environment the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs is walking into this week….for the first formal “strategic dialogue” with Thailand since the military coup of May 2014. The last time Daniel Russel was in Bangkok, local media called him an “ugly American” for criticizing the government’s restrictions on democracy. Russel told reporters his primary concern now is “that the Thai nation emerges from this period of military rule with a stable, democratic, civilian-led, inclusive government.”
