Stand up at the movies or go to prison

[landofsmiles]

Maybe he fell asleep. The cinemas are so comfortable here, I have a couple of times.

Moviegoer Faces Prison for Sitting During Anthem

A 27-year-old Thai man who refused to stand up when the royal anthem was played in a movie theater has been charged with lèse majesté, offending the dignity of the monarch, the police said. The crime is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The man, Chotisak Onsoong, failed to get on his feet last September when the anthem was played before the film started, as is customary in Thailand, where King Bhumibol Adulyadej is widely revered. “It’s the right of any individual to choose what to do,” Mr. Chotisak said.

Last year, a Swiss man was sentenced to 10 years for defacing the king’s portrait during a drunken spree. The king granted him a pardon, and he was deported after spending slightly more than four months in jail, most of it awaiting trial.

Source: AFP - 24 April 2008

[marc26]

i will say, the 1st time i went to movies and had to stand for the King, was one of the most unusual things i ever experienced
not bad, just very unusual
and i actually like the Anthem

[Dupree00]

Originally Posted by marc26

i will say, the 1st time i went to movies and had to stand for the King, was one of the most unusual things i ever experienced
not bad, just very unusual
and i actually like the Anthem

We stand for anthems at the ball park.

[marc26]

Originally Posted by Dupree00

We stand for anthems at the ball park.

sure, but not at the movies
it was just weird for me
and like i said, i actually enjoy the montage and the Anthem

[Dupree00]

Originally Posted by marc26

sure, but not at the movies
it was just weird for me
and like i said, i actually enjoy the montage and the Anthem

I wonder what the Thai reaction would be if you clapped and cheered after the anthem?

[marc26]

Originally Posted by Dupree00

I wonder what the Thai reaction would be if you clapped and cheered after the anthem?

i know one thai's reaction
she is about 5'4 tall, brown/blond hair
SHE WOULD KILL ME 55555

[LivinLOS]

I hate it because its enforced..

My brother being forced to stand by his GF then added a Nazi salute for the duration.. I think explaining the concept of irony and enforced patriotism may have been a tough sell !!

I actually saw a group of 2 or 3, what looked like Thais, also refuse to stand and just sat through the whole thing about 6 months ago.. I also once saw a farang sit the entire time but he got major stink eye.

[K2]

This story was on front page of The Times Online yesterday so Thailand's international reputation in the spotlight a bit.

In the same vein - notice (form post on TV) that the PR (Permanent Residence) application process has lept in toughness and anyone considering applying should pay great deference to the King:-

Yes I was quite shocked when I was interviewed on Tuesday, expecting a simple 10 question test. Instead I got very personal questions like, why did I break up with my former girlfriend (I am single) If I got to Karaokes, If I fool around, where to I go out at night, do I drink and smoke, What did I do on the 5th of December last year. I answered that I was at a ceremony for the king. Then they yelled at me because I did not light any candles for the king.

[JayBee]

The king is just alright with me. I heard he blew a mean sax in his day. I think every country should have a king. We should make Bill Clinton king, then Hillary would be the Queen, Obama could be president and everybody would be happy. We would save millions and millions on negative ads. Sorted!

[Crustasian]

Originally Posted by JayBee

The king is just alright with me. I heard he blew a mean sax in his day. I think every country should have a king. We should make Bill Clinton king, then Hillary would be the Queen, Obama could be president and everybody would be happy. We would save millions and millions on negative ads. Sorted!

It would be Queen Bill and King Hillary - we all know she wears the trousers.

Back home growing up the British National Anthem was always played in the cinema before the start of the show.Same in theatres and sports arenas.Everybody used to stand up.

[webner]

Is this playing of the antum in cinemas still going on ?

[Mr Kobi]

We were at a beach cafe in Nai Yang when my mate suddenly started looking at something behind me and said "who's that stupid old bastard in the pink". I looked round and saw it was a picture of the king. He shut up when I delivered a swift kick to the knee.

[Crunch]

Only been to cinema once with a TG, just as the anthem came up i was sat down totally unaware what i was supposed to do, she stood up, motioned for me to get up urgently saying

"sit! sit!!"

"eh? i am sitting"

"sit sit!!!" then she grabbed my hand and pulled me up, then i realised the king was plastered all over the screen.

typical tg, got it all wrong. bless em.

[Mr Kobi]

Originally Posted by Crustasian

It would be Queen Bill and King Hillary - we all know she wears the trousers.

Back home growing up the British National Anthem was always played in the cinema before the start of the show.Same in theatres and sports arenas.Everybody used to stand up.

Where did you live?? I've never heard the anthem in a cinema, or at football matches (Cup finals notwithstanding).

[Minder]

Originally Posted by Mr Kobi

Where did you live?? I've never heard the anthem in a cinema, or at football matches (Cup finals notwithstanding).

__________________________________________________ ______________

Forty years ago in country Victoria (Australia) everyone stood for the anthem in the picture theatre. Times change of course, but in many things, Thailand is a lot like my corner of farangland several decades ago.

I have no sympathy for this Thai guy who refused to stand - he knows the rules. What he did was calculated to get a reaction - and it will - 10 years worth probably. Som nam nar

[marc26]

Originally Posted by Minder

__________________________________________________ ______________

Forty years ago in country Victoria (Australia) everyone stood for the anthem in the picture theatre. Times change of course, but in many things, Thailand is a lot like my corner of farangland several decades ago.

I have no sympathy for this Thai guy who refused to stand - he knows the rules. What he did was calculated to get a reaction - and it will - 10 years worth probably. Som nam nar

i fully respect National Anthems and have taken offense when UK boxing fans came to Las Vegas and booed the US National Anthem

that being said, no one should be forced to stand for a National Anthem

[Minder]

Originally Posted by marc26

i fully respect National Anthems and have taken offense when UK boxing fans came to Las Vegas and booed the US National Anthem

that being said, no one should be forced to stand for a National Anthem

In this day and age in our own countries.... yes, Marc, I totally agree with you.... and Voltaire famously argued, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

But in this case we are talking about the crime of lèse majesté in the Kingdom of Thailand. It is not the same thing. The Thai guy would have known he was committing a crime, and I have no sympathy for him.

[marc26]

Originally Posted by Minder

But in this case we are talking about the crime of lèse majesté in the Kingdom of Thailand. It is not the same thing. The Thai guy would have known he was committing a crime, and I have no sympathy for him.

maybe he is Thailand's Rosa Parks??

as much as i see people in Thailand just blindly follow whatever they are told as true by authorities, i find it noble that someone is thinking for themselves

[K2]

Don't your ever wonder what the King himself feels about about these kind of cases ....

[Mr Kobi]

I do find it odd that the Thai King is supposedly so adored by his people and yet they don't seem to have a choice in the matter.

Frankly speaking I'd probably refuse to stand for our national anthem. Having no interest in God or the Queen, it's words mean nothing to me.

[marc26]

Originally Posted by Mr Kobi

.

Frankly speaking I'd probably refuse to stand for our national anthem. Having no interest in God or the Queen, it's words mean nothing to me.

to each's own and a lot people feel the same way

some people will say a song doesnt refelct your feelings for your country but i love my National Anthem and love to hear it everytime. and actually, i live in Canada now and i love that anthem too

[Mr Kobi]

Most national anthems promote pride and inspiration through it's tune and lyrics though. Not the UK one, it has a profoundly morbid tune and sycophantic royalist lyrics that bear no relation to the country.

This said though, I'd be pretty angry if some damn foreigners disrespected it as those British boxing fans did to yours.

[TanMan]

The guy is a former student activist. He's also Thai, so he knows he's got a "get out of jail free card". The King has already stated that he SHOULD be subject to criticism...

Here's an excerpt from Absolutely Bangkok website:

Makes you remember the legendary birthday speech of HM the King on December 5th, 2005, when His Majesty himself appeared to question Thailand’s not too modern laws that deter most Thais from even discussing the monarchy.

In his speech he refuted the long-accepted tradition of constitutional monarchy that the king can do no wrong. “If the King can do no wrong,” he said, “it is akin to looking down upon him because the King is not being treated as a human being. But the King can do wrong.”

His Majesty the King welcomed criticism - if it helps to keep the monarchy informed and helps to correct any mistakes. “If you say that the King cannot be criticized, it suggests that the King is not human,” His Majesty said.

“If someone offers criticisms suggesting that the King is wrong, then I would like to be informed of their opinion. If I am not, that could be problematic … If we hold that the King cannot be criticized or violated, then the King ends up in a difficult situation.”

He said no Thai king had ever imprisoned people for such violations. Even King Rama VI (King Vajiravudh) did not punish anyone for rebelling against him. His Majesty added that during his reign, he has never allowed anybody accused of violating him to go to prison.

“If they get sent to prison, I pardon them. If they don’t go to prison, I won’t sue them, because those who violate the King and are punished are not the ones who are in trouble. It would be the King who was in trouble. It is strange, but the lawyers like to send people to prison (for allegedly violating the King).”
----------------------------------------------------------------------

So, it is my opinion that this guy is just looking for his 15 minutes of fame, but I would bet he is paying a heavy price for it... He's only going to alienate himself from the rest of his society...

[TanMan]

Somewhat related and if you like satirical humor:

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