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Post by Soutpeel on Feb 23, 2017 22:13:44 GMT 7
BBC journalist faces defamation charge in Thailand Jonathan Head would face up to five years in jail if convicted in case that rights groups say exposes problem with Thai law A British journalist with the BBC could face up to five years in a Thai jail after a lawyer brought a criminal defamation case against him over an investigation into fraud on a popular tourist island. Rights groups say the case exposes how Thailand’s defamation and computer crime laws scupper investigative journalism and make it difficult to expose wrongdoing in an endemically corrupt country. In 2015 the BBC’s south-east Asia correspondent, Jonathan Head, reported on how two foreign retirees had been scammed out of their properties in Phuket. On Thursday Head appeared in court in Phuket alongside one of the retirees, Ian Rance, a British national, who is a joint defendant in the prosecution. Both pleaded not guilty. www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/23/bbc-journalist-faces-defamation-charge-in-thailand |
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Mosha
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Post by Mosha on Feb 24, 2017 7:31:57 GMT 7
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2017 8:47:26 GMT 7
Normally I would say that I could not care less if they locked this prik up and threw the key away, but this case does highlight the faults in the stupid defamation laws that exist.
Seems like defamation here actually means telling the truth and stating the facts, the law was obviously designed to protect people in power who did not want the truth getting out.
In saying that Jonathan Head made a name for himself during the coups and fighting between the reds and the yellows, the TRT and the Democrats, reporting in favour of the reds, attacking the yellows and the Monarchy.
The law is the law, whether you like it or not. He knew what the risks were doing that, I will feel no sympathy for him if he goes down.
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chiangmai
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Post by chiangmai on Feb 24, 2017 8:52:28 GMT 7
Once you lose the freedom of the press to report fact, it puts you on a very dangerous slippery slope, definitely not one I want to be on.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2017 9:59:16 GMT 7
Agree, but in Thailand's case the press is not game to report the facts for fear of a big court case and possible prison sentence.
In America's case it seems like reporting the facts means you are accused of attacking the government or publishing "alternative facts" or fake news. Freedom of speech means being free to report the good things about the government, but that's all. Another dangerous slippery slope.
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chiangmai
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Post by chiangmai on Feb 24, 2017 10:56:54 GMT 7
I think the fact that Thai press are reluctant to report as fully as we might hope is even more reason why we need to support people like JH and institutions such as the Bee'b, it's a lousy job but somebody has to do it (as they say).
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smokie36
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Post by smokie36 on Feb 24, 2017 10:59:02 GMT 7
Its sad that the theft has become a secondary issue.
Crazy in fact.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2017 11:07:09 GMT 7
I think the fact that Thai press are reluctant to report as fully as we might hope is even more reason why we need to support people like JH and institutions such as the Bee'b, it's a lousy job but somebody has to do it (as they say). I like the BBC, have no issue supporting them. Just have no time for JH after the way he sided with the Shins and the reds and made them out to be the poor, downtrodden good guys. He only reported what suited him, would not admit to a lot of the bad stuff his heroes were guilty of. |
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Mosha
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Post by Mosha on Feb 24, 2017 12:47:38 GMT 7
2 interviews spring to mind. Abhisit & Yingluck, the Abhisit one he was almost sneering, the other he looked smitten. I wonder if his wife is from Issan?
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Post by Soutpeel on Feb 24, 2017 12:51:46 GMT 7
Once you lose the freedom of the press to report fact, it puts you on a very dangerous slippery slope, definitely not one I want to be on. Interesting point, but do the press actually report "facts" or are they reporting their version of the facts ? Freedom of the press doesnt mean they can report what every want even if they know they are stating alternative truths Look at the MSM in the West, some of the jouros and press should be in jail for the lies and propaganda they publish and the stories and facts they supress to further an agenda Lest not forget John D Head works for one of those news sources who has been accused of reporting false news and also supressing news stories which dont suit their liberal marxist agenda |
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chiangmai
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Post by chiangmai on Feb 24, 2017 13:09:02 GMT 7
Once you lose the freedom of the press to report fact, it puts you on a very dangerous slippery slope, definitely not one I want to be on. Interesting point, but do the press actually report "facts" or are they reporting their version of the facts ? Freedom of the press doesnt mean they can report what every want even if they know they are stating alternative truths Look at the MSM in the West, some of the jouros and press should be in jail for the lies and propaganda they publish and the stories and facts they supress to further an agenda Lest not forget John D Head works for one of those news sources who has been accused of reporting false news and also supressing news stories which dont suit their liberal marxist agenda It seems nothing is absolute these days, there are degrees of everything including love, truth and even facts, that's why the word "mostly" was created along with the phrase, "it is understood/thought/believed". I think the trick is to find a news provider that's prepared to offer up the highest percentage of fact, albeit sometimes that may only be 60%, but that's far better than the 5% on offer elsewhere. I personally have no issues with the BBC and will listen to them as one of say three different news sources in order to get a rounded view. |
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me
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Post by me on Feb 24, 2017 13:19:03 GMT 7
Once you lose the freedom of the press to report fact, it puts you on a very dangerous slippery slope, definitely not one I want to be on. Interesting point, but do the press actually report "facts" or are they reporting their version of the facts ? Freedom of the press doesnt mean they can report what every want even if they know they are stating alternative truths Look at the MSM in the West, some of the jouros and press should be in jail for the lies and propaganda they publish and the stories and facts they supress to further an agenda Lest not forget John D Head works for one of those news sources who has been accused of reporting false news and also supressing news stories which dont suit their liberal marxist agenda It is not the journalist that should be sued. If anyone....and I am not sure if they should it is the publisher that decided to publish the story. |
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Post by Fletchsmile on Feb 24, 2017 13:19:44 GMT 7
Not a big fan of Jonathan Head or the BBC's reporting on Thailand. That said, that law has always seemed ludicrous to me. You can get in more trouble for speaking the truth and publishing facts than you can for actually doing wrong. That's seriously messed up. Goes back to the saying that the difference between Thailand and the west is that in the west you can't do what you want but at least you can talk about it. In Thailand you can do what you want just can't talk about it  Particularly if you have power/ money. Cultural difference and I know which I prefer. Not much sympathy for the guy that bought the property though. Anyone living in Thailand should know better than to buy property in a company name to circumvent the law. The quote below sums up my view. What it overlooks though is that's just one perspective. He forgets that many people with power want exactly that to twist the system in their favour. They're the ones calling the shots. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2017 14:05:24 GMT 7
Once you lose the freedom of the press to report fact, it puts you on a very dangerous slippery slope, definitely not one I want to be on. Interesting point, but do the press actually report "facts" or are they reporting their version of the facts ? Freedom of the press doesnt mean they can report what every want even if they know they are stating alternative truths Look at the MSM in the West, some of the jouros and press should be in jail for the lies and propaganda they publish and the stories and facts they supress to further an agenda Lest not forget John D Head works for one of those news sources who has been accused of reporting false news and also supressing news stories which dont suit their liberal marxist agenda Have you read anything on Breitbart lately ? There is a prime example of reporting false news and suppressing facts which don't suit their agenda. Unfortunately they are only one of many news sources that are extremely biased towards the right, the internet is full of them. I consider them just as much MSM as the rest of them. The fact that Trump has been known to hold up stories by Breitbart and wave them around, quoting from them like "it must be fact, it was in here" proves what absolute crap it must be. Or "alternative truths" as you put it. The left is not the only one guilty of it. |
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Post by Soutpeel on Feb 24, 2017 17:04:28 GMT 7
Interesting point, but do the press actually report "facts" or are they reporting their version of the facts ? Freedom of the press doesnt mean they can report what every want even if they know they are stating alternative truths Look at the MSM in the West, some of the jouros and press should be in jail for the lies and propaganda they publish and the stories and facts they supress to further an agenda Lest not forget John D Head works for one of those news sources who has been accused of reporting false news and also supressing news stories which dont suit their liberal marxist agenda Have you read anything on Breitbart lately ? There is a prime example of reporting false news and suppressing facts which don't suit their agenda. Unfortunately they are only one of many news sources that are extremely biased towards the right, the internet is full of them. I consider them just as much MSM as the rest of them. The fact that Trump has been known to hold up stories by Breitbart and wave them around, quoting from them like "it must be fact, it was in here" proves what absolute crap it must be. Or "alternative truths" as you put it. The left is not the only one guilty of it. You seem to have a very unhealthy fixation with Trumpton, you wanting his love child or something ? |
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Particularly if you have power/ money. Cultural difference and I know which I prefer.
