Ji 'flees' to London to 'escape' lese majeste charge

London-based The Guardian newspaper reported yesterday that Ji "fled" the Kingdom because he anticipated the case against him would be unfair.

"I did not believe I would receive a fair trial," Ji was quoted by the paper.

The 54-year-old political scientist, who holds dual Thai and British nationality, posted a strongly worded four-page letter on the Internet in which he called for greater freedom of expression.

"We need to have freedom of expression. Freedom to choose government the majority wants without suppression, without threat and without fear," he wrote, as part of his nine-point manifesto on how Thailand can achieve democracy.

 Ji was charged recently for lese majeste over the book "A Coup for the Rich" that he wrote shortly after the September 2006 military takeover.

He quoted extensively from a book by American author Paul Handley to support his argument the 2006 coup had some backing from the palace.

But the fact that it took the police more than a year to accuse him with lese majeste raised questions whether the charges were politically motivated.

Thanaphol Eiwsakal, editor of the progressive Fah Diew Kan political magazine, who has also been charged with lese majeste, told The Nation that Ji has e-mailed a few close friends about his decision to leave Thailand.

He did not say if he was on the list to receive the email.

When asked to comment about Ji's apparent decision to leave the country, Thanaphol said, "We can't call it asylum since he holds dual citizenship."

Moreover, said Thanaphol, "The incident reflects the fact that the monarchy as an institution has been used as a tool by political groups."

Thanaphol said he heard that Ji had been threatened before he fled.

Ji could not be reached for comment.

Besides the authorities, Ji has also been at loggerheads with the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). He called them "fascist thugs" after they took over Suvarnabhumi Airport and accused them of being a political tool for the military.

In his letter posted on Monday, Ji maintained his anti-PAD stance did not qualify him as a supporter of fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra, adding he does not think the ousted premier could ever bring genuine democracy to Thailand.