[I have received the following statement and attached open letter from Ji Ungpakorn.]
Over 130 trade unionists, social activists, students and academics have put their names to an open letter condemning the behaviour of The Manager media group.
Those signing the letter include many academics at Chulalongkorn and Thammasart Universities, including the Dean of the faculty of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University. Former Senator Jon Ungpakorn and Rawadee Prasertcharoensuk from the N.G.O. Coordinating Committee, Professor Niti Eawsriwong, Textile trade union leaders, worker activists and an academic from the Midnight University are among the signatures.
The letter is in response to the actions of Mr Sonti Limtongkul’s Manager group in promoting violence against a young student activist Chotisak Oonsung, who is being accused of lèse majesté because he refused to stand up for the King’s Anthem at the cinema. Both Manager group websites and its radio station, Metro Life, have encouraged Ultra-Rightwing Royalists to attack Mr Chotisak. Ms Jitra Kotchadej, Chairwoman of the Triumph workers union has also been made a target for violence by The Manager media. Ms Jitra was singled out because she wore a T-shirt supporting the right to different views in society, including not standing up at the cinema. Both Mr Chotisak and Ms Jitra’s photographs and home addresses were published alongside urges to attack them. The Manager media also encouraged people to attack and break up a meeting on Human Rights at Thammasart University recently.
Those signing the open letter compare the behaviour of The Manager with the past behaviour of Rightwing media such as Dao Sayam newspaper and the Tank Corps radio station in inciting violence that led to the 6th October 1976 blood bath.
The letter calls on people to boycott The Manager media group for abusing basic human rights. The letter also calls on P.A.D. leaders Somsak Kosaisuk, Pipop Thongchai and Somkiat Pongpaiboon to come out and officially condemn The Manager.
Associate Professor Giles Ji Ungpakorn
Open Letter Coordinator
The full text of the open letter and the list of those who have signed it is available here.
14 responses so far ↓
1 Khun Stillwater // May 10, 2008 at 4:15 pm
If those who wrote the letter actually kept up with the news—they’d know that Metro Life has been removed from the air.
(using the English because the pdf of the Thai article does not allow for copy/paste)
“Both Manager group websites and its radio station, Metro Life, have encouraged Ultra-Rightwing Royalists to attack Mr Chotisak. Ms Jitra Kotchadej, Chairwoman of the Triumph workers union has also been made a target for violence by The Manager media.”
If you are saying the DJs encouraged violence—can you provide a sample quote of their words? Are you saying Manager employees or the Manager leadership? That’s a bit like saying New Mandala is responsible for every single post (keep in mind Manager gets HUNDREDS of posts a day).
“Ms Jitra was singled out because she wore a T-shirt supporting the right to different views in society, including not standing up at the cinema. Both Mr Chotisak and Ms Jitra’s photographs and home addresses were published alongside urges to attack them.”
To give the letter a bit of a punch, it is necessary to give a screencap of the article on Manager where personal information was divulged and the exact words (or atleast a paraphrase) of the media urging people to attack Mr. Chotisak and Ms. Jitra Kotchadej. Generally, Pantamit advocates ahimsa and non-violent protest—sort of the opposite of Chakrapop Penkair’s violent siege tactics at Prem’s house.
It’s a bit confusing because this is what I’ve seen on the site:
Hundreds of posts and a handful containing personal information on Mr. Chotisak—posted not by Manager writers but by visitors of the site.
Manager also gets tons of posts from Pro-Thaksin fanatics and a handful of your average agents provocateurs who try to post links to sameskybks—prachatai and other sites.
2 two rolls and a bee · talking about anger // May 10, 2008 at 8:28 pm
[...] Leo? How about student massacres? how about student massacres in the 90s? or the media encouraging violence against a student for wearing a t-shirt? how about a really effective war on drugs? what about no [...]
3 jonfernquest // May 10, 2008 at 9:19 pm
“That’s a bit like saying New Mandala is responsible for every single post (keep in mind Manager gets HUNDREDS of posts a day).”
They are in fact. Comments associated with any media website in Thailand have to be edited and the media website can be held responsible for comments, such as lese majeste comments. That’s why some media websites are very cautious in adding forums.
I’m sure a fairly rigorous proof could be given that Sonti Limtongkul is an **extreme political opportunist**, siding with Thaksin then jumping sides for personal reasons, then waging what amounts to a personal war on Thaksin but couched in very general terms like accusing him of lese majeste (”tie him to the firing squad post…”), and all the crazy Hitler sounding stuff that comes flying out of his mouth during speeches that he’s been found guilty of criminal defamation for. Thank goodness most people do not succumb to his orgy of violent speech and thought.
4 jonfernquest // May 10, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Whoops. It’s not The Manager site that can be held responsible, not the New Mandala website, because The Manager site is in Thailand.
5 Teth // May 10, 2008 at 10:15 pm
If you are saying the DJs encouraged violence—can you provide a sample quote of their words?
The fact that their radio station has been taken off the air, coupled with a public apology from the Manager website should be enough. Stop denying what has actually happened.
Manager also gets tons of posts from Pro-Thaksin fanatics and a handful of your average agents provocateurs who try to post links to sameskybks—prachatai and other sites.
It seems to get your comment posted you have to be an extremist. The people who filter comments at Manager have their own agenda. That they allowed those comments in (because they are not allowed in by default) shows what they believe. And those ultra royalists are sure savage. In fact, I remember when Sondhi L. was having a public fight with ML Nattakorn (’The Columnist’ at the Post) plenty of Manager’s commentators were calling Nattakorn a “cunt” and much worse. That was all allowed by whoever it is that screens comments. On the other hand, my reasonable comments NEVER get through. But maybe that’s because they’re “subversive” or the Manager cannot handle actual facts or people pointing out their hypocrisy.
Generally, Pantamit advocates ahimsa and non-violent protest
The key word is “generally”. Listen to Manager’s and Pantamit’s rhetoric. True, they not usually as uncouth as the Pro-Thaksin mob, but they are still a mob.
6 fall // May 11, 2008 at 1:15 am
The letter calls on people to boycott The Manager media group
Yeah, right. Better chance of Kim Jong Ill announce repentance and join up into one Korea. Or Microsoft to announce a bugless Window with refund for every hang.
Comments associated with any media website in Thailand have to be edited and the media website can be held responsible for comments
As far as I recall, Pantip is mostly a webboard. And right after coup, it was close down. And what is a blog, if not a site with a bunch of personal comment and picture (lese majeste case, ring a bell?). So IMO, yes, comments on website can be held responsible. Especially, those website that have moderator.
Generally, Pantamit advocates ahimsa and non-violent protest
Aside from vulgar language, ritualistic cursing, and beating ITV reporter only once, the PAD meeting went quite non-violence for a mob their size. Not exactly a Ghandi ahimsa, but generally non-violence nonetheless (or may be for lack of provocation).
But the recent pro-Thaksin mob was, well… we all saw the pictures.
7 Khun Stillwater // May 11, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Teth
The fact that their radio station has been taken off the air, coupled with a public apology from the Manager website should be enough. Stop denying what has actually happened.
Teth, why don’t you try something new like reading my post carefully? (^_^)
I was the one who gave info that Metrolife was removed—however I suggested that Prof. Ungpakorn provide some evidence (paraphrasing) to readers and idea.
I didn’t deny that it happened—obviously something went wrong (I didn’t listen to that specific episode). The point of my post was to ask if the issue was with replies all over the website posted by people who are not employed by manager and I offered my own experience as well. Obviously you missed the point.
Jonfernquest
I’m sure a fairly rigorous proof could be given that Sonti Limtongkul is an **extreme political opportunist**,
Dead on.
If you are involved in politics or political movements—you better be an opportunist. Sort of like Chotsak whose “timing” is very suspect. Sondhi may very well lose this war because he’s just not as good as jumping on political opportunities like Thaksin or his least likely of all allies—the REPUBLIC OF THAILAND people (funny these same people don’t try living in countries with these systems in place).
Chotsak/prachatai/sameskybks are much better opportunists—Sondhi should get a few lessons from these guys. They’re so clever they have trolls all over manager posting links to their site (and YES THEY GET POSTED).
As for the comment about mods picking and choosing.
Even my comments don’t get through.
siding with Thaksin then jumping sides for personal reasons, then waging what amounts to a personal war on Thaksin but couched in very general terms like accusing him of lese majeste
Jonfernquest thinks this is about les majeste. Have you missed oh…2-3 years of news my friend?
BOTH THAKSIN AND SONDHI have used les majeste against one another.
Pantamit can keep going because Thaksin and or his cronies do much more than purported “les majeste” in Thailand. I’ll not list all the cases here because other sites (not just Manager) report these issues.
Thank goodness most people do not succumb to his orgy of violent speech and thought.
I’ll be sure to note when Sondhi tells me to take to the streets with rocks and incendiary devices! So far this hasn’t happened.
Furthermore, “Pantamit”, includes people from many backgrounds (just like the Pro-Thaksin folks). If one bad apple decides to be violent—it is not necessarily at the behest of Pantamit leaders.
Think of it this way.
One will never be able to pin the “blame” on Thaksin for all the low level drug dealers (some of whom may very well be innocent), the radical Muslims (some of whom were labelled as drug addicts by Thaksin) who were killed under his regime simply because he didn’t pull the trigger.
All in all, I don’t think there is nothing much to worry about. After all, we’ll all have our freedom of speech back with Jakrapop/Chakrapop Penkair/Penkhair in control.
Full control.
8 Thai observer // May 11, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Dear Khun Still water,
1. “…his least likely of all allies—the REPUBLIC OF THAILAND people (funny these same people don’t try living in countries with these systems in place).”
Are you suggesting that those who think Thailand should be republic do not deserve to have a normal life in Thailand? In Thailand, this opinion is common without ever been criticised that it is a disgusting (and dangerous) view.
2. A concrete example of what the DJ said on the Manager Radio:
He urged his listeners to physically attack Chotisak (the person who didn’t stand for the royal anthem); “having a battery in your fist”, and hit Chotisak would get only 500 baht fine, the DJ said.
There are many more that “dehumanized” Chotisak, including plenty of curses such as Chotisak should go away from Thailand; he should not live in Thailand, Is he a Thai?, or calling him all kinds of beasts and lowly animals.
The Manager also published the address and phone number of Chotisak on its page.
This is not to deny that Thaksin’s supporters were also rude and low, such as showing the real (middle finger) in public.Both should be condemned. But no way to deny The Manager’s responsibility.
The Manager argues that the violence instigation is not The Manager’s policy. Well, I don’t think there is any political party has a policy to violate the election law either. Yet, the Manager keeps calling for the dissolution of the whole party because of one person’s mistake.
9 Khun Stillwater // May 15, 2008 at 11:01 am
Thai observer // May 11, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Dear Khun Still water,
1. “…his least likely of all allies—the REPUBLIC OF THAILAND people (funny these same people don’t try living in countries with these systems in place).”
Are you suggesting that those who think Thailand should be republic do not deserve to have a normal life in Thailand? In Thailand, this opinion is common without ever been criticised that it is a disgusting (and dangerous) view.
————————–
Dear Thai observer, are you suggesting that other REPUBLICS in the world are not “normal”?
Thai observer, my question is simple. Have these scholars lived in utopian Republics before? For how long? Or are all they have are theories?
Why don’t you stop putting words in my mouth and acknowledge that I asked a question. A question these scholars can answer on their own.
Before you label my opinion (which is actually A QUESTION) “disgusting”. Reflect on the fact that I did not ask anyone to leave Thailand. I don’t own Thailand.
From the suggestion of TPR folks, we need more socialism. While -elements- socialism in the US and other countries have contributed to the betterment of society, its implementation is beneficial in a MIXED form—not pure or extreme as some scholars try to encourage.
I acknowledge that maybe the issue on this board is the multi-lingualism and varied opinions. I’m studying various Thai media outlets and enjoy the posts here at NM which admittedly has a smaller community often based abroad or presents a minority academic view. It’s possible we’re getting our wires crossed due to language.
10 Khun Stillwater // May 15, 2008 at 11:13 am
THAI OBSERVER
“The Manager argues that the violence instigation is not The Manager’s policy. Well, I don’t think there is any political party has a policy to violate the election law either. Yet, the Manager keeps calling for the dissolution of the whole party because of one person’s mistake.”
Thai observer may be too busy to follow the news. Manager’s biggest point is: if the government wants to change the constitution, then people must vote on it.
Ask the millions of people who APPROVED of the constitution to likewise approve of its change by the Palang Prachachon party.
People are free to slam Manager. But please folks, atleast read the site, which is in simple Thai. Don’t pull things out of the air like this and mislead impartial observers on an English forum or attempt to create ridiculous “facts” like Teth: “In fact, I remember when Sondhi L. was having a public fight with ML Nattakorn (’The Columnist’ at the Post) plenty of Manager’s commentators were calling Nattakorn a “cunt” and much worse. ” Teth should state what he means by c-nt? The Thai word for that organ is not allowed on air — period (not even on late night talk shows for teenagers). Or is Teth saying they were speaking in English? How far fetched are you going to take this?
As a female westerner I’m not going to sit here and tolerate sexist remarks either. Next time if Manager ever uses c-nt I’ll be sure not to defend that unacceptable behavior!
Everyone knows foul language and using a foul word for the female reproductive organ can be heard in the House of Representatives out of the mouth Palang PP member Karun during his recent kicking rampage against a Democrat.
Remember you can disagree with Manager’s views, but don’t ignore what other media outlets are publishing even ahead of ASTV/Manager which you can use to compare and contrast on your own.
11 jonfernquest // May 15, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Not by enmity
na hi verena
are enmities quelled,
verāni sammantīdha
Whatever the occasion here.
kudācanaṃ
By the absence of enmity are they quelled.
averena ca sammanti
This is an ancient truth.
esa dhammo sanantano
(Dhammapada 1.5)
12 tUM|BleR // May 16, 2008 at 4:00 am
Khun Stillwater:
Just a small point. I admit this constitution is quite legitimate because it was approved in a nationwide referendum. But we can’t ignore the fact that the ‘Yes’ campaigners had encouraged people to approve it first so that an election could be held. Whatever flaws the draft may have had, the campaigners urged people to ignore them because we would be able to *amend* the constitution later. As such, we don’t really know how much the voters actually agreed with the content of the draft.
And in case you, erm, tell me to go back and read your post carefully, I just think you were implying that this constitution was popularly APPROVED (you capitalised that), as in the majority of people really liked it.
And yes, the Manager publishes lies and conspiracy theories and will stop at nothing to obliterate its opponents.
13 Bangkok Pundit // May 16, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Thai observer may be too busy to follow the news. Manager’s biggest point is: if the government wants to change the constitution, then people must vote on it.
Ask the millions of people who APPROVED of the constitution to likewise approve of its change by the Palang Prachachon party.
What is the constitutional process for amending the constitution? Parliament or a referendum? It is parliament. Which people approved this process? Those who voted in the referendum. So isn’t amending the constitution through parliament following the people’s wishes?
Since when did The Manager care about voting? The causes they support always lose. They have never deemed any TRT or PPP victory as legitimate.
The Manager’s apology is 10% apology and 90% rant.
14 Teth // May 16, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Khun Stillwater,
Refer to the webpage where Sondhi L. published his response in English.
There are many who chose to insult Nattakorn along the lines of “you’re not the only one who can speak English, don’t be arrogant” and yes, people calling him a “cunt”.
This is not the radio show, this is their website, and yes, it actually happened in the comments section.
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