A friend of mine was living in Thailand when a police officer overheard him talking about the King and Queen. He was saying if the royal family is so great why have none of them ever spoken out against the massive sexual exploitation of Thai girls and the reputation Thailand has as the brothel of the world. He was ARRESTED and deported for his comments. He was not talking trash about the royal family. He loves Thailand and was just wondering how the King could watch his girls being abused and not say a word against it...Do you think he was deported unfairly?
2007-05-08 11:31:27 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Royalty
This story is fictitious. The vast majority of Thai policemen cannot string 2 words together in English. Eavesdropping on a native speaker speed conversation is very difficult at the best of times for non-native speakers.
Assuming the policeman's English was very good, he would have ignored the comments as it was a foreigner. He would not have sought to enflame a very sensitive topic.
If the policeman had no option because the person was, say broadcasting his views on the radio, he would have arrested and charged the foreigner. The foreigner would have been held in custody for a few months awaiting trial.
I understand that you have created a story to put forward your opinions on this matter.
2007-05-09 17:33:06 · answer #1 · answered by bogmonster 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As an American, I feel he was deported unfairly. In Thailand freedom of speech is certainly not protected the way it is here, and by that country's standards he was committing treason. I can feel sorry for your friend, but I don't think the Thai government would agree with me. I sympathize, but I also feel it's wrong to try to apply my beliefs to a situation in which the people have different values.
2007-05-08 18:47:11 · answer #2 · answered by at a snail's pace 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Most definetly. Sometimes it's easier to turn the other cheek then comfront the issues at hand. Your friend although correct...was caught "making waves" He shouldn't have been deported...he should have been comfronted and told what is being done (if anything) to protect the innocent youth of Thailand. There are a lot of factors at play here. There is a lot of curruption in countries like Thailand. Governmental figures and entities are no exception. You mess with their "money" and they deport you (or worse)
2007-05-08 18:42:32 · answer #3 · answered by Hmmm? 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When in Rome ... In Thailand, it is illegal to talk in a negative way against the King and other royal persons.
If your friend is genuinely concerned about the plight of women and girls in Thailand s/he could join an organisation such as Amnesty International, Unicef or Women for World Development, and actually do something about the situation.
2007-05-08 23:35:04 · answer #4 · answered by Bluewaterwoman 3 · 7⤊ 0⤋
There has to be more to this story. A remark like the one described is not cause to be exiled. The King of Thailand is not an absolute Monarch. He is like the Queen of England the titular head of the country , but has no real power and no say in what goes on in his country. Strange, but true,
2007-05-12 13:08:46 · answer #5 · answered by Alfie333 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would like to know the answer to that question myself. This is one of the reasons why a totalitarian government just cannot work if we ever wish to grow as a global society. But this cannot even be entirely to blame, as even the USA has problems completely eradicating sexually exploitation. I believe its important for there to be a grand public exposure, such as the one for the AIDS epidemic. I happen to represent an NPO that works to protect children being exploited in the sex industry in the Philippines. If the world community could just hear some of the stories I hear... girls of only 5 years old being raped nearly 23 times a day. Perhaps the public outcrys would make it more difficult for entities of government to deny the existence and severity of this disgusting practice.
2007-05-08 18:43:21 · answer #6 · answered by Julia 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I lived in Thailand for a year and an absolute no-no is criticizing the king and queen. However valid your friends point is, it should have been talked about in private rather than in public. The same kind of offense is taken when someone steps on a coin with the king's image on it.
This isn't necessarily a freedom of speech issue. It's more a matter of showing the proper respect for another culture.
2007-05-08 18:35:55 · answer #7 · answered by Thunderman9 6 · 8⤊ 1⤋
Anyone who "loves" Thailand knows that the Thais revere their king. Nothing is ever said or done there that would detract from his stature.
He was not unfairly deported.
2007-05-08 18:36:28 · answer #8 · answered by ignoramus 7 · 7⤊ 1⤋
Well, I guess Thailand doesn't have guaranteed freedom of speach huh...
It's something many americans take for granted.
Well it wasn't fair, but tough luck. I came from a communist country and we knew that when we opened our mouths we were taking certain risks, so we had to watch out what we said OR accept the risks.
I'm hearing of lots of americans going to live in other "paradises" only to find out that... oops, yeah it's really nice except they're missing some very basic freedoms there.
Good luck in convincing the king of Thailand that free speech is something that people in his country are entitled to. Meanwhile, I hope your friend learn to watch his mouth.
2007-05-08 18:38:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
Yes. But I guess it's considered treason there to talk like that. He wasn't exactly saying GOOD things and Thailand is not America where we allow freedom of speech.
2007-05-08 18:34:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋