Thailand recently banned the latest edition of the Economist magazine and jailed an Australian writer – both over negative comments about the Thai royal family. Brad Adams of Human Rights Watch tells us more about the Thai monarchy and press freedom, and gives us an update on the ongoing political troubles there.

Comments [4]
Your show has now been heard in Thailand.
I found the interview very interesting and right on point.
Leonard, I think stick to doing interviews with gossip magazine writers, celebrities and people and who want to muse about why black people should be called chocolate etc etc. These issues on Asia with the monarchy, migrants are too complex complex for you to understand, and frankly you don't do yourself or your listener any justice by by bringing in a guest who has an agenda and having a very one sided discussion.
Now I understand, the under reported segment of your show is a result of you feeling guilty about relishing in celebrity gossip most of the time, and needing to feel like you are doing something meaningful in your life. However you do a lot of damage by painting a very one sided picture.
When I was in Thailand 4 years ago people openly talked about their fondness/reverence for the current king and their strong dislike for the next kind. I'd like to go back, but probably won't. I'm glad I visited when I did.
That the monarchy cannot defend itself is true of other monarchies including that of Great Britain and the Scandinavian monarchies.I am sure there is more to it than that. Seems to me that democratic thinking has had a hard time penetrating those countries which have had never been thoroughly colonised by the Britain. I was never in favour of such but that at least was one benefit of British colonisation.
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