Free speech has the ability to make you behave in much the same way that a child does after a bowl of sugar-coated Corn Flakes – once you’ve tasted it, going back to how you had it before is a kick in the head. Be it a rant against The Man or a punch-bowl full of sugary goodness, it feels good to exercise our freedom to speak and/or eat. (It’s in the Constitution, I checked). So it was interesting a while back when something happened and I thought to myself, “I should put this on my blog” but then decided against it. But the thing that stuck in my craw was the reason I decided against it.
It’s often difficult coming to Thailand from western countries, where free speech is guaranteed and you can say pretty much what you want about someone unless it’s demonstrably false or slanderous. In Thailand, despite free speech being guaranteed in articles 39, 40 and 41 of the 1997 constitution, the government still employs censorship as a tool to silence things and/or people it doesn’t like (apparently they aren’t familiar with the definition of ‘guarantee’ but let’s talk about that another time). Like most tools of state control, it’s largely borne out of fear, although I will concede that there are rare instances where shutting someone down is probably a prudent thing to do.
At any rate, the incident in question happened on my birthday, when I was at a pretty snazzy restaurant at Central World with a group of friends. Now, customer service in Thailand leaves a lot to be desired, but the lack of service here was on a level I’d never seen before; being served by Manuel and Basil Fawlty would have been a godsend by comparison. The standard complaints apply – wait staff seemingly trained to ignore customers, 30-minute waits for plates of plain rice, forgotten drink orders, etc. At one point, I actually got up and walked into the kitchen to get a fork and spoon so that I could eat my now-cold dinner, scaring the crap out of the waiters who were socializing inside. I went back to this place one more time and got the same level of service, and several friends have said the same thing. I wanted to comment on it, but I didn’t because to be honest, this expensive restaurant is likely owned by some pretty important people and I was a bit scared of someone seeing it and suing me for defamation. That pissed me off.
Defamation lawsuits in Thailand happen all the time for pretty minimal reasons. A former government official was recently sued for 1 billion (with a ‘b’) baht for wondering if Tesco’s aggressive expansion policies were in the best interest of Thailand. Politicians here sue each other in spades for making ridiculous statements that would likely be completely ignored if it wasn’t for the lawsuit. And let’s not forget about when the Bangkok post printed a story saying that Suvarnabhumi Airport’s runway had cracks, it fired the reporter, who was threatened with huge lawsuits, despite the claim being true. Thankfully, he was later exonerated.
Anyway, I could go on and on about media freedom in Thailand. I could mention that internet censorship here is illegal under multiple articles of the ’97 constitution, which doesn’t seem to stop some websites from being censored. I could mention that, according to Reporters Without Borders, Thailand’s press freedom has sunk from one of the highest-ranked in Asia to #124 in 2008. But I won’t. Wait, I did.
At any rate, I’m the type of guy who doesn’t really like to make waves – I’m happy following the status quo if things are going okay. But it’s a nice feeling knowing that I have the right to make waves if I want to. I’m aware that I have to give up a lot when living in another culture and adapt to local rules and regulations, but still… add this to the list of things I miss about home.
Hey Greg,
Thanks for posting that article it was terribly fascinating!! It reminds me of when I was in Estonia and our guides asked us to talk quieter and not gesture so much (we were at a restaurant / bar). Apparently the place was owned by some Russian Mafia type people and they were there and didn’t look to happy that we were having a good time. I remember feeling put out that I had to censor my good time and laughing with friends because of someone else’s stupid rules. But it’s better to concede and live to joke another day! Keep up the great writing.
Thanks for the post. Add this to the list of topics I’d like to chew the fat with you about sometime. This is a big one for me personally. There’s so much to say that it’s hard to begin, and once you begin it’s hard to stop.
so freedom of speech for everyone except certain ppl (taksin)?
how does that make sense?
Who will decide who has freedom of speech and who does not?
either everyone or noone.
freedom of speech is a right, but it does not mean that laws agains hate speech and personal insulting suddenly disappear.
Clearly a subject with a whole lot of maybe’s. Jan, I agree with you that freedom of speech should apply to everyone, but I also believe that there are limits. You are right when you say that freedom of speech ‘does not mean that laws against hate speech…disappear’, but it also means that other laws remain intact too. Be it Thaksin urging a ‘people’s revolution’ or the US Republican party saying that Barack Obama supports kindergarten-level sex education, a girl lying about how many tattoos she got on her face, freedom of speech is a powerful thing to have, and it shouldn’t be abused.
First, I proudly note that the Douche Bag supporters are at Columbia University (the verdigris patina on the lamposts is a dead giveaway). And if anyone knows douchebags, it’s the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Second, I am curious as to what sorts of websites you find to be censored? You were a bit oblique on that point…
Seriously though, the self-censorship here is terrible, whether borne of fear of legal reprisal or, often more terrifying, extra-legal reprisal. And coming from a free speech culture, it’s bad enough to cave to pressure but it really does erode your self-respect when you find yourself caving peremptorily. Plus, I remember well those service problems, so I really do sympathize with your self-censorship plight. Or should I say…self-ZENSEorship?
Sorry, I meant to post that as “Frodo Douchebaggins.” My bad.
What you see is a mojor consequence from the one that mostly being censored here.
You might already know(or feel) such thing.
Anyway, I am quite sure that I am the most person who chat about “such topic” in a very unique way. Well, including my fellows too.
Hope one day we could share for such topic
PS. Too many “such”?, Please correct them if you feel like I am still your student of ALT’s class, lol
I wonder whether bloggers writing in other European or Asian languages worry less about the consequences of writing on certain topics or conveying somewhat critical ideas? Just a thought really. They may be less concerned about being found out because their posts are not readily discovered by non-speakers. That may be what TAoz above is hinting at.
Those of us who write in English, i.e., me, definitely practise a bit of self-censorship because the watchers are more likely to read the language. After all, what is the one thing we all want? Very practically, we want to be able to stay in/visit the kingdom, and retain the ability to choose our residence, or want to be able to re-enter and not be provided with a new residence upon arrival. All of which seems quite possible, given the recent number of ex-pats tried and convicted under the lesse majeste laws. And if you want more proof, re-read FrogBlog’s interview with Thaivisa.com founder George on the inanity of slander/libel “conditions”. Whoops, did that just slip out?
Last, our western view cannot avoid having the taint of a superiority complex. Long preamble thankfully removed . . . Thailand might not be Thailand if it overnight became a western capitalist democracy based on English laws. We’ll probably have booked our flights by noon the next day. 😉
c’mon! Thailand certainly has some major censorship issues but of course you can name the restaurant on this blog!
personally i find your last line about having to give things up when you live in a new culture is bullshit. i too once thought this and bowed down to everything thai (“it’s thai culture”), but the fact is nobody is ever in a million years going to think that you are thai and they don’t expect you to act like it. by all means be respectful and observe the local customs but there’s no need to give anything up.. just add what you brought with you to what you’ve got now and you’ll be a better man.
on a side note, money also talks in thailand so maybe you’re just annoyed cos you have a crap salary?
cheers 🙂
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