New Mandala

62 responses so far ↓

• 1 An old phrai // May 29, 2008 at 11:55 am

  This is based entirely on my memory. The main story is still clear to me but I cannot assure the accuracy of all facts.

  A publication of the Thai translation was in late 1974 by two Thammasat students (or just graduated). But in the end the published copies were never released to the market. After printing, and a day or two before the two planned to release the book, something happened. All I know is that most copies were destroyed or hidden away by the two publishers (not by the police)while some were circulated in small circles. Later we knew that both of them went to the jungle in mid 1975, the same group as Seksan, Jiranan and others. One of them later became an elected Senator from a northeastern province. The other one returned from the jungle with Seksan (and was mentioned in the film “Moonhunter”). But I didn’t follow his whereabout since then.

  I don’t think the 1974 publication was known to the police. It was not banned because the publication didn’t exist! Only a small circle of their friends knew about the publications and the change of plan. Ask former student activists of the 70s, most of them never knew or saw this book at the time. I think the fact that the book was never released to the public and the police didn’t know about it, i.e. the book didn’t exist, is the reason why the ban only took place in 2006, when a copy of an old print emerged in public. It is not true that a publication of Devil Discus in Thai is more tolerable than the one in English. It was so dangerous that “something happened” can caused the publishers to change their plan.

  I do not know if the cover shown here is the same as the 1974/75 edition but was mistaken to be the 1977 edition. Or there were really two different prints: 1974/75 and 1977 ones. In 1974, I didn’t see the cover. When I talked to the two about the book, I was too naive and didn’t realize the significance of the book. I only knew the title in Thai “กงจักรปีศาจ” and knew that it was dangerous.

  Sorry that I cannot tell the real names of the two. They might not want to be known involving with this episode 34 years ago, esp in the current ugly royalist climate.

• 2 An old phrai // May 29, 2008 at 12:02 pm

  Sorry– in the above anecdote, I put the date 74/75 in some places because at first I was not so sure what year I encountered this incident. I believe it was late 1974 when I met them and since by mid-1975 both of them went to the jungle. But I forgot to revise all the “74/75″ in the above message to “1974″.

• 3 ThaiCrisis // May 29, 2008 at 12:04 pm

  Sorry to arrive into the discussion like an elephant into a glassware shop… but could you… tell us what is Devil’s Discus about ??? !!!

  And point number 2, it’s enough to know that is has been banned in Thailand… to have a huge desire to read it.
  

  Therefore, where is it possible to find the english version ?

  Thanks.

• 4 Reg Varney // May 29, 2008 at 1:28 pm

  I can’t add to the DD story. However, the suggestion that Thai discussion of the monarchy is more acceptable to those up top than western appears to lack any supporting evidence.

• 5 Serhat // May 29, 2008 at 7:46 pm

  All known English copies of Devil’s Discus in Thailand were ordered destroyed. The Siam Society resisted with the support of Princess Galyani but it is still in restricted circulation. Some university libraries have copies in rare books.

  Until recently, Thammasat library actually had an English language copy freely accessible at Professor Direck Jayanama Library. In October 2007 I was able to borrow the book and make a copy. According to the loan period card, it had been borrowed seven times in 2007 alone.
  I returned the book and a few weeks afterwards I checked the shelves again for a friend but could not find it any more. To my surprise, the title had also been deleted from the online catalogue. Whereas a few weeks before the catalogue had still listed two copies of the book at Thammasat Central Library (that copy was nowhere to be found) and at Direck Jayanama, it seems as if “The Devil’s Discus” has now completely “disappeared” from Thammasat.

• 6 Thorn // May 29, 2008 at 9:17 pm

  I have never seen a Thai version, but have read an English version at my university library (in England).

  To my knowledge, this book in a Thai version does not exist in Thailand. I looked at library cataloque, both at Thammasat and Chula, and could not find it (a Thai version).

  Although there are various other books on Rama 8 death; most of them can be found in bookstores in Thailand. My family have bought a few of them. I have never seen this book in any bookstore too.

  I think that one you have seen is an “underground” one. Very very limited amount of people have seen it (at least people in my age –20 something years old).

  Therefore, I disagree with your observation that the Thai discussion of monarchy is more acceptable. I think a critical observation of the monarchy by the Thais just does not exist in the public (none of us want to end up in jail).

• 7 Somsak Jeamteerasakul // May 29, 2008 at 11:22 pm

  Nine years ago I published an article about the backgrounds of this Thai version of The Devil’s Discus, titled กงจักรปีศาจ และหนังสือกรณีสวรรคต . The article was later included in my book ประวัติศาสตร์ที่เพิ่งสร้าง I’ll put the whole article on my blog shortly, and will give notice here after I finish.

  Let me discuss here a few details about the book. I’ll write more later if I have time.

  First of all, Andrew’s picture of the book cover above is definitely not the real one. It’s been, I think, digitally modified to make the book’s title, author and translator more easily readable. (The font used here actually was not invented back in 1974) I’ll put the picture of the real 1974 front cover on my blog too. (Or if you can’t wait and can find my book, you can have a look there on page 100.)

  About the book’s availibility. As K.Serhat says, there used to be a copy of the English version in the Pol Science Faculty Library (too bad without the dusk jacket which looks quite nice). It’s been there for great many years without much notice, until recently.

  Actually in my article I also “revealed” how a THAI version had been, for many years also, mysteriously put inside the Thammasat main library, under a wrong title (both on the front cover and in the library catalog). But some students of mine recently told me that it has also been removed, or disappeared or stolen (I cannot think how the staff would know its existence to remove it. But possibly because of my mentioning it the article some people had tracked it down and maybe kept it for him/herself.

  About the Thai version. K.Old Phrai’s story is largely correct (I really wonder who you are, since not many people, even of my - our - generation would know about it).

  The publishers were the two TU Pol Science students K.Old Phrai says. At first I thought of revealing their names, since it’s been more than 30 years and no harm should happen to them. (Besides they have long ceased to be leftist activists). But on reading K.Old Phrai, I agree it’s better not talk about their names for the time being, especially at current political climate (although given details K.Old Phrai already told, it wouldn’t be difficult for anyone with keen interest in the matter to find out. I’m not saying this’s wrong. Below I’ll confirm some details about them which I don’t think make much difference from what K.Old Phrai already says.

  At the time (1974) the two were very close to Seksan. They’re also in a relationship, but had since broken up, I believe, after they went into the jungle to join the CPT. The man left with Seksan and Jiranan in 1980 but the woman stayed and rose to the rank of the CPT Central Committee just before the party’s demise. Late the woman was arrested and released. She started a new career as a writer and wrote articles for daily paper with a sort of feminist leaning. (I have to check K.Old Phrai’s story about her being a senator. This part of her life I missed it.)

  In 1974, they (especially the man) decided to publish the Thai version believing it’s legal, since Pridi had submitted it in court case he brought againt MR.Kukrit Pramot for defamation. But I was told since 1974 that Seksan himself adviced against putting the book (already finished) on the market. The book was then “sold under the table” (ขายใต้โต๊ะ i.e. selling something illegally). This was how I bought a copy in 1974, as did a number of people in the student movement . A couple of years ago I checked with an old-book seller at Jatuchak Market, the book I bought for 25 baht was now priced around 6-7000 baht!

  I was told that the very first printing of the book had a yellow cover. But I never saw it (the one I bought has the same black cover K.Andrew shows above except for the font used for title, etc as I said earlier). I understnad this yellow cover was changed after the publishers decided to sell it ‘under the table’ instead, as he also have to remove the first 16 pages (or the first prining sheet. I don’t know the technical term in English but we used to call this หนังสือ 16 หน้า ยก which means one printing sheet folded to make 16 pages) Because contained the preface and the real name of the publisher.

  That’s it for now. I may write some more if I have time.

• 8 Somsak Jeamteerasakul // May 29, 2008 at 11:47 pm

  Dear Khun Andrew,
  I tried to post the following several times. Not sure if each time it already reach you (it didn’t show up on my screen as usual with the caption “your comment is awaiting moderation”). If it already did, please disregard this one. Thank you.
  Somsak.

  ……………………….

  One more point. I have great respect for K.Chalit Chaisitthiwet, the translator. But, as I explain in my article, the book was quite badly translated, with mistakes on almost every page. Some of these are quite serious. I’ll give here two examples (from my article - sorry it’s in Thai):

  (p.s. Over the years, I sometimes entertained the idea of tranlating the whole book myself.)

  ในหน้า 71 ของฉบับภาษาอังกฤษ ครูเกอร์เล่าว่า ที่ท่าอากาศยานสวิตเซอร์แลนด์ ก่อนจะทรงโดยสารเครื่องบินที่จะนำพระองค์กลับไทย ในหลวงอานันท์ฯทรงแอบหลบไปโทรศัพท์ถึง “a student friend” (พระสหายนักเรียนผู้หนึ่ง) “With journalists swarming about he had time but to say au revoir. He told no one of the call.” ซึ่งชลิตแปลว่า “พระองค์ทรงมีเวลาที่จะรับสั่งกับบรรดานักหนังสือพิมพ์ซึ่งมาห้อมล้อมพระองค์อยู่ว่า ‘ลาก่อน’ แต่พระองค์มิได้ทรงรับสั่งถึงเรื่องที่ได้ทรงโทรศัพท์กับใคร” แต่ความจริง ควรจะแปลว่า “ด้วยเหตุที่มีนักหนังสือพิมพ์คอยห้อมล้อมเต็มไปหมด, พระองค์จึงทรงมีเวลารับสั่งต่อพระสหายผู้นั้นเพียงว่า ‘ลาก่อน’ พระองค์มิได้ทรงบอกใครถึงเรื่องที่ได้ทรงโทรศัพท์นั้น” (ในหน้าเดียวกันนั้น ยังมีประโยคที่แปลผิดอีกหลายประโยค)

  ……………

  ในหน้า 166 ของฉบับภาษาอังกฤษ ครูเกอร์เล่าคำให้การในฐานะพยานโจทก์ของสมเด็จพระราชชนนี “She recalled a private audience Pridi had of the King after dinner on 7 June…. Ananda told her that under the constitution he had the power of appointment [of the Regency Council]. She confirmed the Buddhist tutor’s reporting to her Pridi’s threat after this audience that he would not support the throne again.” ในฉบับแปล “สมเด็จพระราชชนนีทรงให้การว่า…. ปรีดีเข้ามาเฝ้าในหลวงอานันท์ฯเป็นการส่วนพระองค์ในวันที่ 7 มิถุนายน…. ในหลวงอานันท์ฯได้ทูลพระองค์ว่าภายใต้รัฐธรรมนูญ พระองค์ทรงมีพระราชอำนาจที่จะทรงแต่งตั้งผู้สำเร็จราชการ นายปรีดีได้ขู่ภายหลังการเข้าเฝ้านี้ว่าเขาจะไม่สนับสนุนพระราชวงศ์อีก” ข้อความที่ว่า “She confirmed the Buddhist tutor’s reporting to her” หายไปไม่มีการแปล (อาจเป็นเพราะปัญหาการพิมพ์ก็เป็นได้) ซึ่งอาจทำให้เข้าใจผิดได้ว่า ในหลวงอานันท์ฯทรงเล่าเรื่อง “การขู่” ของปรีดีให้สมเด็จพระราชชนนีฟังด้วยพระองค์เอง แต่ความจริง สมเด็จฯทรงได้ยินเรื่องนี้จากปากของ “the Buddhist tutor” (อนุศาสนาจารย์ คือนายวงศ์ เชาวนะกวี ผู้ถวายอักษรไทย)
  ฯลฯ….ฯลฯ….ฯลฯ

• 9 paul handley // May 30, 2008 at 1:52 am

  Just a note on what I understand are the origins of the book: Kruger was recruited to write it by Prince Subhasvasti, aka Tan Chin, in his Free Thai name, a brother of Queen Rambhai who was exiled in England with the outgoing royal family after the revolution. Prince Subha liked and trusted Pridi and believed he and the others had been framed, and wanted to correct that — and also give King Bhumibol a way out. He had suggested in an earlier long 1947 letter to Bhumibol that Ananda’s death could well have been an accident related to his being ill.

  Kruger though concluded (ATTN PLOT TWIST GIVEAWAY COMING if you haven’t read it) that Ananda was despondent over a Swiss girl he wanted to be with/marry. But I don’t think Prince Subha would have had a problem with that.

  Anyway, the book was imported into Thailand and went on sale in bookstores before someone took note and got it banned.

  By the way, a friend told me around 2003-04 that he saw the photocopied book, English version (possibly Thai too, my friend doesn’t read it) openly on sale at a book fair at Chiang Mai University.

• 10 SomchaiB // May 30, 2008 at 11:23 am

  Just as an aside readers might be interested in British pathologist Professor Keith Simpson’s account of his involvement in the Ananda case. See ‘The Violent Death of King Ananda of Siam’ in his Forty Years of Murder: An Autobiography, London: Harrap, 1978. Simpson’s disagrees with both the accident and suicide versions of what happened. He writes:

  ‘The question was…accident, suicide, or murder? The King has been keenly interested in small firearms, and had often practiced shooting with Vacharachai. He had kept an American Army .45 Colt automatic in his bedside drawer. Could it have gone off accidently while he was examining it? Would an intelligent man who knew anything about firearms inspect a pistol with the safety catch of and the magazine charged while lying in bed on his back, his head on the pillow and the pistol pointing at his forehead? The idea seemed wildly far-fetched, even apart from the fact that the King’s sight was so defective that he could not have examined anything without his spectacles, and at the time of his death these were lying on the bedroom table. The position of the body made suicide almost equally unlikely. In twenty years experience I had not seen a suicide shoot himself whilst lying flat on his back. No such case existed, so far as I knew. The suicide sits up or stands up to shoot himself. There were other strong indications against suicide. The pistol found at the King’s side was by his left hand, but he was right-handed. The wound, over the left eye, was not in one of the elective sites, nor a “contact” discharge. The direction of fire was not inward towards the centre of the head. Furthermore the King had never hinted at suicide to anyone and had not been depressed at the time of his death. That left only murder, for which the evidence was very strong. I thought he had almost certainly been shot while dozing, and that unconsciousness had followed instantly. The muzzle of the pistol had evidently been close to but not against the skin, giving the King no warning or any chance to protect himself. “This is not a case of suicidal discharge nor of accident, but one of deliberate killing by firearm,” I concluded my report’.

• 11 Somsak Jeamteerasakul // May 30, 2008 at 11:41 am

  Dear Khun Paul,

  Thanks a lot for sharing this interesting info with us all.

  Given the fact that Prince Sawat had ever since the incident in 1946 tried to defend Pridi, to reconcile Pridi with Bhumibol and, as you say, to find the way out for both Pridi and Bhumibol (and I may addd, to cite the Prince himself in that letter you mention, to ‘lift a great weight off [his] mind’ over the incident), your story makes perfect sense and sounds very true.

  However, I wonder if you could perhaps give further info or speculate or comment on the following.

  On my reading, at the time of the book’s preparation and publication (i.e. first half of 1960s), the Prince was in the process of his own reconciliation with Bhumibol after the two had fallen out for over ten years. Bhumibol was reportedtly furous with the Prince because he believed the Prince was the cause of the wide-spread belief among members of the British royal family in the 1950s that Bhumibol killed his brother. But in the 1960 Bhumibol appeared to forgive the Prince, at the same time as he and the British ‘made up’. That year Princess Alexandra visited Thailand as personal guest of Bhumibol. The King took her to stay and be entertained at the range of Prince Sawat in Phetchaburi province. I read this, as I said, as a reconcilation between Bhumibol and Prince Sawat himself.

  I discuss this issue in an article first published in Fa Diew Kan a few years ago and available on my blog at http://somsakwork.blogspot.com/2006/06/blog-post_30.html
  See especially the last paragraph and the last note (note 2 http://somsakfootnotes.blogspot.com/2006/06/blog-post_115146282371323264.html

  If my reading of this reconciliation between Bhumibol and Prince Sawat is correct, I wonder why the Prince would jeopadize it by supporting a book such as The Devil’s Discus? Perhaps - I admit it’s possible - he’s a man of great loyalty to his friend Pridi and even in the middle of that reconciliation with Bhumibol, still wanted to mediate between Bhumibol and Pridi. But I also think the book greatly risked infuriating Bhumibol again. What do you think?

• 12 Stephen // May 30, 2008 at 1:31 pm

  “but could you… tell us what is Devil’s Discus about ??? !!!

  ThaiCrisis and others, there’s a summary of the book available here.

• 13 Reg Varney // May 30, 2008 at 2:50 pm

  SomchaiB: Thanks for that. Interesting. But it still leaves open the idea of an accident that involved another person.

• 14 SomsakJeamteerasakul // May 31, 2008 at 12:23 pm

  Dear Khun Paul,

  Thanks a lot for sharing this interesting info with us all.

  Given the fact that Prince SuphaSawat had ever since the incident in 1946 tried to defend Pridi, to reconcile Pridi with Bhumibol and, as you say, to find the way out for both Pridi and Bhumibol (and I may addd, to cite the Prince himself in that letter you mention, to ‘lift a great weight off [his] mind’ over the incident), your story makes perfect sense and sounds very true.

  However, I wonder if you could perhaps give further info or speculate or comment on the following.

  (to continue below. I try breaking up my post to see if it works, after trying to post the full text over 30 times since yesterday but never succeeded.)

• 15 The Devil’s Discus - in Thai - กงจักรปีศาจ-New Mandala « FACT - Freedom Against Censorship Thailand // Jun 1, 2008 at 3:06 am

  [...] The Devil’s Discus - in Thai - กงจักรปีศาจ Andrew Walker New Mandala: May 29th, 2008 [...]

• 16 Andrew Walker // Jun 2, 2008 at 7:58 am

  Ajarn Somsak - apologies for the difficulties with posting your comment. It is now here, in full, at comment 11.

• 17 paul handley // Jun 2, 2008 at 3:31 pm

  Khun Somsak,

  I didn’t know about the visit to Prince Suphasawat’s farm so I can only speculate that, first, if Alexandra was also a friend of Suphasawat, perhaps this was King Bhumibol just being diplomatic. Or perhaps as you suggested Bhumibol had warmed to the prince. But also look at the timing: if that visit was in 1960, it was also well before the publication of the Devils Discus, in 1964 was it? In the meantime, Sarit took power and made it clear that Pridi was not to return.

  On the other hand, one can’t assume that the king was unhappy about the book. As he had tried in earlier years, the prince and Kruger drew the reader away from the conclusion that Bhumibol killed Ananda. The alternative explanation Kruger offered effectively cleared Bhumibol. (Though it maybe impugned the princess mother Somdej Ya over the Swiss girlfriend issue).

  As we know with ‘The Revolutionary King,” just because it is banned doesn’t mean the king didn’t like it.

  In fact, it is the Pramojs who are damaged most in the “Devil’s Discus,” for putting their relative at the head of the investigation and then him faking evidence and witnesses.

  So the short answer is, I don’t know. Did Bhumibol in 1964 realy care about the prince? Did the prince at that time really care to be back in the palace inner circle?

• 18 Frank G Anderson // Jun 2, 2008 at 11:05 pm

  2 June 2008

  I really would like a copy of either the Thai or English of the book, or both. Is it possible to receive on electronically?
  I am doing research on lese majeste here in Thailand as part of a book that covers my experiences in the subject as a victim, and need to have some information that provides background for my research. I thank anyone who may be able to assist.
  Sincerely,
  Frank G Anderson

• 19 Somsak Jeamteerasakul // Jun 3, 2008 at 12:12 pm

  ขอบคุณคุณ Paul มากครับ
  Thanks Khun Paul Handley for your thought.

• 20 Andrew Walker // Jun 3, 2008 at 4:11 pm

  I have provided an update to this post with some new material provided by New Mandala readers.

• 21 Clifford Sloane // Jun 3, 2008 at 4:55 pm

  Can the more well-informed among you comment on the conjectures of Stephenson in “The Revolutionary King”? In particular, how do you assess the conclusion that Phibun Songkhram gave the order, and Tsuji Masanobu carried it out disguised as a monk?
  The idea of Phibun giving the order makes a LOT of sense to me, and explains Bhumibol’s generally acquiescent behavior until Prem came to power.

• 22 Teth // Jun 4, 2008 at 2:30 am

  As with Mr Anderson, is it possible to receive this book in an electronic form in English?

• 23 chris baker // Jun 4, 2008 at 3:18 pm

  To Clifford

  Tsuji Masanobu was one of the most brilliant and controversial of Japanese generals. If you can imagine Douglas MacArthur dressed as a nun skulking around post-war London and murdering Princess Elizabeth, then you can buy this story too. Tsuji hid briefly in a wat before fleeing Bangkok to China in late 1945. Stevenson spun that small fact into his tale. It’s one of the best jokes in an excellently comic book.

• 24 illusion land // Jun 4, 2008 at 5:38 pm

  I have Devil’s Discus pdf files (Thai version) but it’s very big files (253 MB)

• 25 Frank G Anderson // Jun 4, 2008 at 6:05 pm

  Illuson land…
  How can I buy/obtain it? I can send cash, etc., or just download it.
  Thanks.
  FGA

• 26 illusion land // Jun 4, 2008 at 6:22 pm

  I try to upload a file and give you a link later.

  just download it!!

• 27 CJ Hinke of FACT // Jun 5, 2008 at 2:17 am

  In fact, Stevenson’s The Revolutionary King (1997) is not legally banned in Thailand. However, it is not sold here by social convention. Most Thais aren’t worried about the errors or speculation in the book but by the fact that the author refers to Nai Luang by his childhood nickname, Lek–hardly befitting a great king!

  While we’re on the subject, I have been told that the Stevensons lived with the Thai Royals for some months while researching his book, with even his children attending school with the Royal progeny. It is said that Stevenson was chosen to write HM’s official biography because of the King’s admiration (and translation of) for his book, A Man Called Intrepid. The Royals have never acknowledged The Revolutionary King, however, rumour has it here that there was Royal intervention to prevent the book being officially banned. An obvious hagiography, it is rife with errors though makes a good read!

  To my knowledge, there was never an official ban order nor was one published in the Royal Gazette. To my knowledge, Stevenson’s book was never translated into Thai; if someone knows of a translation, I would very much like to see it.

  My own reading of The Devil’s Discus is that Kruger does not favour any possible reason for King Ananda’s death by gunshot but merely tantalises us with possible explanations: regicide (and by whom? Certainly for political gain by implicating Pridi and thus removing him from Thailand’s political and populist landscape.) It is a given that the three Royal servants executed nine years later having been acquitted by lower courts took a fall. There is often concern raised over why Nai Luang did not exercise his prerogative of Royal pardon.

  The second possibility is suicide (possibly despondent over the Princess Mother’s unwavering insistence that he break his romantic involvement with a sweetheart in Lausanne). A King’s suicide would have been impossible to admit to the Thai public.

  The third possibility raised by Kruger is that of accident. As both young Royal sons loved guns and had ready access to them, this raised the (never-to-be-mentioned) possibility that King Ananda’s death may have occurred during gunplay with his younger brother. In fact, many have speculated that this is the reason the King never smiles. It is my personal view that raising this possibility by its title is the real reason The King Never Smiles was banned well before its publication.

  However, I must point out that one simply does not see any Royals anywhere hee-hawing in public. It is unseemly not only in Thailand.

  Of course, the mystery of Ananda’s death could only be confirmed by three Royals: Somdek Ya, Princess Galyani and the King himself. The former are both dead and it is unlikely the King will say anything. We can hope his children know the real story so this important element of Royal history is not lost forever.

  The new Printing Act 2007 has never been properly tested, so if any reader wishes PDF scans of any of these books, Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) will be happy to provide them as part of its Banned Books Project-Celsius 233.

  facthaiATgmailDOTcom

• 28 Srithanonchai // Jun 5, 2008 at 3:29 pm

  While in Germany, I watched part of a documentary on Asian monarchies. In English, a young King Bhumipol said (quoting from my memory), “Ananda’s death was political murder. But I cannot say whether it involved the international level.”

• 29 Frank G Anderson // Jun 5, 2008 at 5:20 pm

  An interesting comment at the very least. But, did you actually see him saying it, or was it a quote? Can you provide an estimated date of the day you watched this and in what city? Maybe we can get info on the documentary.

• 30 Srithanonchai // Jun 6, 2008 at 12:00 am

  Frank: The documentary was on the nation-wide channel “Arte”, but it might originally have been French. I should have watched it in the first week of May. Generally, the section on Thailand treated her monarchy in a very positive light. Nevertheless, it could be broadcast in Thailand only with some changes, because the feature also included some critical comments on the heir.

• 31 Srithanonchai // Jun 6, 2008 at 1:29 am

  Frank: Here are some more details.

  Channel “Arte” (French/German)

  Documentary “Paläste der Macht - Herrscher des Orients: Der Sultan von Brunei und das thailändische Königshaus.”

  “Palaces of Power — Rulers of the Orient: The Sultan of Brunei and the Thai Royal Dynasty.”

  ZDF/Arte

  Author: Gero von Boehm

  Germany 2007

  Shown on 14. Mai 2008 um 20.15 Uhr

• 32 Serhat Ünaldi // Jun 18, 2008 at 7:23 am

  Srithanonchai and Frank: The documentary was rebroadcast today (17 June) on the German documentary channel “Poenix”. I transcribed the German translation of what Bhumibol said since his original voice is drowned out by the German narrator. The respective part of the documentary is taken from an unidentified documentary from 1980.

  Here is the original German transcript:

  Als ich ankam, war er tot. Man hatte ihm in den Kopf geschossen. Lange hat man versucht, Fakten zu sammeln, die Hintergründe aufzuklären. Es war ein politischer Mord. Ob die Mörder Thais waren, oder ob die internationale Politik dahinter steckte wird man wohl nie erfahren.

  My English translation would be:

  When I arrived, he was dead. Someone had shot him in the head. For a long time it was tried to gather facts, to elucidate the backgrounds. It was a political murder. If the murderers were Thais, or if international politics was behind it one will probably never know.

  I’m not quite sure if the German translation in the documentary is correct since they seem to translate more than Bhumibol actually says.

• 33 Srithanonchai // Jun 18, 2008 at 4:07 pm

  Serhat: Vielen Dank!

• 34 CJ Hinke // Jun 18, 2008 at 5:17 pm

  To our knowledge, this is the ONLY comment King Bhumipol has EVER made regarding the death of King Ananda.

  Might one of you kind people make a copy of this TV programme and post it to us for further analysis?

  Thanks so much.

  facthaiATgmailDOTcom

• 35 Frank G Anderson // Jun 19, 2008 at 12:09 am

  Maybe I am dense but still would like to know how to obtain that book, digitally in English or Thai.
  Thanks.

• 36 Serhat Ünaldi // Jun 19, 2008 at 6:32 am

  CJ Hinke: A friend of mine recorded the documentary for me. It’s a huge file but I will try to post a copy to you within the next few days.

• 37 CJ Hinke // Jun 19, 2008 at 3:42 pm

  Thank you, Serhat. I actually think it might be easier to burn to disk and post it to me, if that isn’t too inconvenient. I can then make copies for others who’d like them.

  Postal address: CJ Hinke, Box 31, Udomsuk Post Office, Bangkok 10261

  Thank you so much!

• 38 CJ Hinke // Jun 19, 2008 at 3:45 pm

  Frank, please see my comment above. I would be happy to post the disks to you!

  facthaiATgmailDOTcom

• 39 Frank G Anderson // Jun 19, 2008 at 10:09 pm

  19 June 2008
  Thank you.
  My address is:
  Frank G Anderson
  745/1 Seubsiri Soi 3/13 (Taptim)
  Meung, Nakonratchasima 30000

• 40 Robert Horn // Jun 20, 2008 at 5:18 pm

  Concerning Bhumibol’s comments about his brother, this is what he said in “Soul of a Nation” the BBC documentary from about 1980:

  “It was not an accident, not a suicide. The truth had been suppressed, because it was political.”

• 41 SWL // Jun 20, 2008 at 6:09 pm

  Dear CJ Hinke,

  Would you please send me a copy disk of the file to me ,too.
  Thank you in advance.

  My address;

  Suwat Limsuvan
  131/14 Moo 19 , Putthamolthon 2 Road, Sarathumasop, Tawewatana, Bangkok,10170

• 42 Serhat Ünaldi // Jun 20, 2008 at 7:44 pm

  CJ Hinke: I just sent out the DVD to you.

  However, I should have checked the respective part about the BBC documentary Robert Horn mentions in TKNS first. Handley cites Bhumibol’s entire statement on pages 273-74:

  The investigation provided the fact that he died with a bullet wound in his forehead. It was proved that it was not an accident and not a suicide. One doesn’t know. . . . But what happened is very mysterious, because immediately much of the evidence was just shifted. And because it was political, so everyone was political, even the police were political, [it was] not very clear.
  I only know [that] when I arrived he was dead. Many people wanted to advance not theories but facts to clear up the affair. They were suppressed. And they were suppressed by influential people in this country and in international politics.

  The translators of the German documentary did a quite sloppy job.

• 43 Frank G Anderson // Jun 20, 2008 at 7:55 pm

  20 June 2008
  Do I presume correctly that HM is being quoted via a translation into English? If so, what is the original Thai?

• 44 Robert Horn // Jun 20, 2008 at 8:31 pm

  No, his comments were in English. He was speaking to the BBC in the documentary about him entitled “Soul of a Nation.”

• 45 Serhat Ünaldi // Jun 20, 2008 at 8:44 pm

  Frank G Anderson: Bhumibol’s original statement in the BBC documentary is in English.

• 46 Frank G Anderson // Jun 21, 2008 at 5:11 pm

  21 June 2008
  Can any of you ‘real scholars’ out there point me in the right direction to finding a copy of the 1941 Printing Act and subsequent amendments, etc.? I have spent considerable time to no avail.
  Thank you!

• 47 amberwaves // Jun 22, 2008 at 5:51 pm

  Re: the Printing Act

  I’d try the libraries at Chula and Thammasat if I were in Bangkok.

  Otherwise consider contacting the Thai Journalists Association, or Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT). Or maybe the Law Society of Thailand (though I can’t recall — did they change their name to the Lawyers Council of Thailand — or was it the other way around?)

  At a pinch try contacting a newspaper or active publishing house, whose lawyers should have a clue.

• 48 CJ Hinke // Jun 24, 2008 at 7:41 pm

  I’m off conferencing but nearly all past and current Thai laws are online with discrete search terms, often in both Thai & English. I am almost certain I have posted the old & new acts along with English translations. I must have them and would be happy to attach them to email in 10 days or so.

  Thank you, Serhat, for the DVD; I’m looking forward to it on my return.

  Does anyone have any idea where we can find a copy of ‘Soul of a Nation’?

• 49 CJ Hinke // Jul 1, 2008 at 6:46 pm

  Disks posted to K. Suwat & Ajarn Frank. Please confirm arrival by email.

  Frank, I was getting reading to send you the Printing Act 1941 in Thai & English but I don’t seem to have to have your email address.

  I don’t, however, seem to have the Printing Act 2007 in Thai or English. Will some good soul please find these, download them & attach them to email to me? Thanks in advance!

  facthaiATgmailDOTcom

• 50 Frank G Anderson // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:13 pm

  editorialoffice@thekoratpost.com

  Thanks a great deal!
  Frank

• 51 Frank G Anderson // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:29 pm

  http://www.tja.or.th/images/stories/3-12psb2550.pdf
  This is the 2007 Printing Act, I believe. Thai only.

  The 1941 Thai language version seems to be here…
  http://www.tja.or.th/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=300

• 52 SWL // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:58 pm

  My e-mail

  suwat004@truemail.co.th

  Thanks krub Mr. Hinke

  Suwat L.

• 53 CJ Hinke // Jul 2, 2008 at 2:50 am

  For quite some years, I have been buying EVERY SINGLE COPY of Discus I could find. I thought as many copies as possible should be repatriated to Thailand. I now have several copies in English, from very good to fine in good to very good dust wrapper. First and only edition. And a single copy at the present time of กงจักรปีศาจหลัง, the only Thai edition in its secondary variant with black papercovers.

  This is YOUR perfect opportunity to support Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT). Own your very own piece of Thai history which will never be reprinted!

  facthaiATgmailDOTcom

• 54 Frank G Anderson // Jul 2, 2008 at 10:39 pm

  http://www.2519.net/autopage/print.php?t=3&s_id=6&d_id=7&page=1

  A post 6 October interview with Seni Pramoj. Maybe I am being overly critical, but air-head comes to mind. This rationale seems to be what is a major inhibition to democracy taking real root here.

• 55 Frank G Anderson // Jul 5, 2008 at 5:08 pm

  Did someone fall asleep at the wheel?

  http://www.2519.net, a very informative website, allowed its domain name to expire, and faces permanent deletion in August if not renewed. This site has lots of great historical background, text and photos, etc.

• 56 Cali2513 // Jul 7, 2008 at 6:17 am

  I’m living in the US now and interested to have a chance to read either the book in Thai or English version or both. I don’t mind up loading the big file if anyone has it in and E-book form.

  Back in 1990, when I was in College in the north of Thailand,I used to read bunch of thick books from the library about the death of prince Ananda. I remember taking the books back to the dorm and read them out loud to my friends.

  Thanks in advance for any of you who would be able to help me out.

• 57 CJ Hinke // Jul 7, 2008 at 7:41 am

  Cali–Just email me your postal address & I’ll post you a disk.

  facthaiATgmailDOTcom

• 58 K. Nonthaisong // Jul 17, 2008 at 3:38 pm

  I am also interested to read this book either in Thai or English. Do you still have a link that I can download from?
  Thanks

• 59 Siammann // Jul 28, 2008 at 6:37 pm

  Khun Hinke,

  Could you provide the censored books for us please.
  What about considering posting them on scribd.com, if you don’t have your own running servers?

  Thank you,
  Siammann

• 60 Natalie // Sep 17, 2008 at 7:45 am

  hi
  im thinking of writing a research paper on this topic and would like to have a copy of the book in both thai and english.
  digital copy would be fine but does anyone have a hard copy i can buy from??

  thank you
  Natalie

• 61 CJ Hinke // Sep 18, 2008 at 9:28 pm

  I have been busy teaching summer session the last ten weeks.

  Will all those who requested DD copies please email me with your mailing address and I’ll see you get sent a disk.

  CJ Hinke
  Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT)
  facthai@gmail.com

• 62 CJ Hinke // Oct 1, 2008 at 7:26 pm

  For those who can read Thai, I’ve recently come across this book. Its author is a lawyer and it supports the official findings. However, it purports to contain a complete copy of the court judgement. It seems books in English get banned in Thailand while those in Thai are left alone.

  บุญร่วม เทียมจันทร์ [Lawb Plong Pra Chon Raw Phad]
  [The Assassination of Rama XIII]
  Boonruem Tiamjan
  ISBN: 9749458303
  1st edition: November 2006
  2nd edition: February 2007 (cover states 10th printing)
  THB 190
  248 pp

  http://animategroup.com/asite_up/viewbooks.php?b_id=293
  pocketbook@animategroup.com

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