Conor David Purcell the Irish born Australian who made headlines a couple of weeks agi has been arrested. I posted the videos of his speech on the red shirt stage at the blog I wrote. Since then I have corresponded with a few guys and his service in the Australian army is true, in the reserves, but the extensive training with the SAS is apparently a bit of a stretch.
Anyway, he has been arrested here in Thailand. I just watched an interview with a man who has visited him in the Thai jail. Purcell was arrested for visa infringements, and the court handed him a suspended 2 month jail sentence.
But he is being held on remand for ‘violating the emergency decree’ and could face up to 2 years in jail. He was a regular face at the rallies and seemed very passionate about speaking out and expressing his views.
A few guys I have spoken to said that Conor just goes too hard too fast and doesn’t think enough before flying forward. This seems the case as well.
I truly hope he isn’t jailed, Thai jails are horrible places. What he done was stupid, no doubt about it. But being jailed is a little harsh. If he is jailed then the leaders of the red shirts deserve a lot worse.
If they find him guilty put him on a plane and send him home, I am sure that is fair enough punishment as he has lived here for a while now apparently.
Does anyone know of his charity work? What is it about or for? I hear he has been a charity worker as well as teaching English. Can any shed any light on this?
I am sure this is a very big wake up call for him, and I hope he learns from this. Back home in Australia you can stand on soap boxes and speak your heart out, but in a supposed democratic country when things are at boiling point you need to be very careful.
So Conor, I hope you get off and think before you go full bore into your next cause. What we take for freedom of speech is very different to others.
What do you guys think? Does he deserve to be jailed? Do you think this would be harsh?
Brunty
6 comments:
Foreigners were told not to join the protests. He did, so he will most likely get what was promised.
I'm not Thai, but I found his ranting quite disturbing (and embarrassing, even though I'm not Australian). I imagine the Thai government did as well.
Should he be jailed? Up to Thailand.
Like you I hope the man doesn't do time in a Thai jail but I really do think the ex serviceman may have shot himself in the foot.
Speaking out on stage during the red shirt crisis is going to be a crime in Thai officialdom eyes that will be possibly be used as an example to warn the rest of us westerners.
Let's hope his charity work has some softening effect although personally I think it's rice, water and cockroach time for the Australian man.
Hey Brunty,
Again, I totally agree with your thoughts on this guy. He did something really stupid but I feel he should not be jailed here but sent home instead.
I also agree it's a bit harsh, but many of the charges being given out from the scenario seems to be a little over the top. (Terrorism??)
Anyway, our Aussie boy isn't doing himself any favours.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/australian-launches-tirade-in-thai-court-20100527-whrn.html
He should be subject to the same treatment Thais arrested for the same crimes are being treated, no more nor less.
Under Thailand's current legal definition of terrorism - ironically drawn up by fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra - he is guilty of that particular crime for the content of his speeches.
What has happened since? Friend from Korea who knows his background and is worried!
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