Keeping mouths shut

Re: ‘The Great Dictator’ blocked on ‘democracy day’, ( BP, June 24).

Thai historian Thongchai Winichakul is correct in saying the revolution of 1932 is not yet finished. An obvious reason for this is the antipathy some feel towards the values that underpin democracy, for which antipathy leads them to repeatedly make up excuses, however lame and false, to tramp democratic evolution into the dirt.

The quotation from Sulak Sivaraksa reminds us that those making up their excuses for opposing the Thai nation’s democratic growth “truly believe they are good people”.

But the excuses given cannot justify a coup. Sincere belief cannot make that belief true. The Earth did not move to the centre of the universe because popes and bishops sincerely believed it to be there in accordance with Biblical teaching.

Nor does a coup become necessary or morally right because those committing it truly believe themselves to be doing something morally right or necessary.

It remains wrong and an assault on good morals.

These basics from elementary critical thinking explain the desperate need to censor and suppress free thought and open discussion, which have characterised Thai society and politics for decades, but even more intensely since May 2014.

There is only ever one primary reason for censorship. Censorship is always, without exception, imposed to enforce ignorance, to prevent a sound knowledge and informed understanding of the topic being censored.

This is why China makes it a criminal of- fence for Chinese citizens to learn about Tiananmen. This is why North Korea makes it illegal for citizens to access foreign sources. The intent is to protect false myths from being exposed.

The truly bizarre result of the censorship imposed on the captive Thai audience is that foreigners can and often do know more about Thai affairs than locals do.

The only Thais who can reasonably claim to have a sound understanding of their nation, its society, its history and its government are those who have sought out and considered the views of academics and others held in contempt by the censors.

These so-called enemies of the state are either forced into exile or imprisoned; or they are censored to protect the public from opinions related to Thai affairs that are of genuine importance.

Censorship is beloved of those with contrary values. FELIX QUI