Somyos 'face' of free-speech group

The 10-member group was spotted thrice at the recent National Book Fair at Queen Sirikit Convention Centre, causing quite a stir.

“We saw the promotion of Bangkok as the World Book Capital this year. But how can we be a world book capital when people are banned from reading? People have been jailed for producing books, and we call ourselves a world capital of books?” asked Wirapa Angkoontassani-yarat, a leader of the “Faceless People” and a former writer at a major monthly magazine.

Another key member of the group, a man who asked to be referred to only as “Uan”, said forming such a group was a convenient way to oppose the lese majeste law, which carries a maximum imprisonment term of 15 years. He said he had no plan to visit Somyos, who was sentenced to 10 years over the magazine’s publication of two articles deemed offensive to the monarchy, but which were allegedly written by ex-PM’s Office minister Jakraphob Penkair.

“Lek”, 33, is the third key member of the group, and also asked not to have her identity revealed. She said she would have done the same thing if someone else were to be imprisoned merely for being an editor of a publication. “We just want to have freedom to read,” Lek said.

Wirapa said seven volunteers had joined them after they publicised their activities on Facebook. Sensing the growing anger among people of various walks of life who have joined the protests, she warned that such movements would grow as long as Thais do not enjoy freedom to read content critical of the monarchy. “If you block information, things will go underground and create an even wider rift in society,” she predicted.