March 4, 2009
Bangkok (Own Source) – More than 50 foreign and Thai academics launched a campaign calling for the reform of laws protecting the monarchy despite growing clampdown.
The group included famous linguist Noam Chomsky and US-based academic Thongchai Winichakul.
A letter was signed and would later be sent to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
"As scholars and sympathetic observers of Thailand, we are extremely concerned about the recent legal actions taken against Thai and foreign citizens under the lese majeste law," the letter said.
A press conference took place at the Foreign Correspondents' Club and the meeting was via Internet videophone.
"How far are we going to stand idly under this climate of fear? The lese majeste law has created the climate of fear," Thongchai told the press conference over the video link.
The group said that lese majeste cases increased criticism of the monarchy and Thailand instead of suppressing them.
Thongchai and press conference co-host Andrew Walker, who spoke from Australia, both said work commitments had kept them from attending the meeting in person, according to AFP.
Giles Ji Ungpakorn, political science professor at Chulalongkorn University, fled to Britain last month after the lese majeste charge. The university already approved his resignation from lecturer post.
More than 4,800 websites have been blocked since March 2008. Officials said that at least 17 lese majeste cases are currently under way.
The issue will reportedly be discussed by the government next week.
