[This post is only expressing own opinions, non-related to my agency].
People who want to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days for travel, work or other purposes have to get a Non-Immigration Visa. For more than three years I was living in Thailand with a Non-Immigration Visa (ED, Student) but it was time to change to a real work permit. With the right papers from your employer it usually takes 2 weeks, sometimes a bit more. But my whole process took nearly 14 weeks and I stumbled upon a variety of upsetting hold-ups and snafus.
Since I work as a correspondent I applied for a Journalism Visa after submitting all of my papers (work-contract, work-samples, passport scans, pictures etc.) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited me to an interview. I had no idea what they wanted to ask me but I thought it might be about my education and experience.
Surprise No 1: One of the first critical questions was what my view on the monarchy was. I was clearly asked if I had problems with the King or the monarchy in general.
Surprise No 2: They were very serious in asking me why I am focusing on human rights & censorship and why I didn’t want to cover politics in my home country of Germany instead of Thailand.
After these questions were asked there was a glimpse of clarity for me when they referred to a report from the MICT (Ministry of Information & Technology) about my blog being blocked two times before. I explained to them that I was not aware of writing anything offending in regards to the monarchy (lese majeste laws). I also never changed any content after publishing to appease them and bring the blog back, and yet it never stayed blocked for long.
A file with my name on it was opened and I could not believe my ears when I heard the quotes. The official was reading out selections from my blog posts & tweets (some of them over a year old). The content was mostly about critical issues within Thai culture, the monarchy or Thai politics.
So at this point in the process I temporarily had a feeling I never had before in Thailand: Fear. Why was the MICT storing my blog entries and tweets from over a year ago?
I really do like George Orwell’s 1984 and I am very aware that certain elements exist world wide but you never realize how unfare and frightening it is until you really get in touch with it.
The idea they were sending me was very clear: ”We are watching you – be careful’
As I mentioned before I only felt like this temporarily. I cannot do my job without being critical and I could never live a life where people are censoring me.
After the interview I was told that the process was taking longer because the MICT had to look into the case before it could be approved by the Foreign Affairs Ministry. At that point my existing visa ran out and I did a visa run. I called the Foreign Affairs office every two days asking for updates but there was never a clear answer except ‘please wait’. My news agency as well as my colleagues helped by calling the Ministry asking them to be clear about any problems. After weeks of silence I was notified that they were doing a huge background check on me. Foreign relations, the crime division & even the Thai intelligence unit were involved. Another few weeks of silence and I had to take a second visa run to extend my stay.
Finally my permit got approved including a new invite for another interview. The meeting had quite a tense atmosphere with lots of fake smiles and phrases like “We want you to be a friend of Thailand”. I was taught again how laws (lese majeste) are structured in Thailand. I constantly had the feeling I needed to justify myself for things I haven’t done. It was a pain.
I know that this post is public and probably will be read by the MICT/Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I am posting this because I felt absolutely misjudged and I didn’t like the threatening nature of the interviews. I never got an apology or any explanation.
I never committed any crime or offense – quite the contrary: I am not only a ‘guest’ who is respecting Thai culture & values – I am engaged in several development projects in Thailand. I do volunteer teaching and help in many humanitarian projects around the country. I love Thailand and always try to present it in a good way. I recently shot a video project for the Ministry of Culture entitled “What it means to be Thai” which received great resonance from Thai officials.
I don’t like to post too much personal stuff on my blog but this topic was very upsetting to me & I wanted my colleagues to be aware of the intense monitoring of the media & press in Thailand. Free speech is one of the most important factors in Journalism and we all have to realize how important it is to our life.
And the first question they ask when you apply for US Visa is “Are you associated with any affiliated Islamic fundamentalist group.” “Yes” answer would qualify you for automatic US Visa approval because in America sincerity and free speech is the most cherished and sacred attribution.
pretty scary insight…
My Friend,
Do let me put your problems in the right perspective.
Your qualms are:-
1.The Monarchy & laws of lese mejeste.
Almost the entire populce of Thailand reveres The Majesties, loves them entirely and is willing to sacrifice even their lives for them. The rhetoric being pumped up is entirely by foreighners like yourselves.It would be nice if you don’t poke your noses where it is not needed.After all,we don’t meddle in the affairs of any other country.
2.Question of your Visas and Immigration Status.
It is normal it would be difficult to get your file through.You have had your Blog blocked on two occasions.That is tantamount to meddling in the affairs of your HOST Country.Free speech is fine.But upto a point.You are streching it if you Offend beyond.
Of course the Authorities have cause to check and recheck if you are atrouble maker.Any Officer or team of Officers that approves your application is answerable in case you go sour later.
3.VISAS & Immigration.
It takes time anywhere in the world.Try getting Visas(even Tourist Visas) from any country in Europe,Australia,UK.The amount of paperwork they require and the cost.Not counting the added new Visa Office Cost.But, we the silent masses just have to silently comply.Because that’s the requirement of the Host Country.
That’s just the Tourist Visas we are talking about.
Here, we are discussing Non-Immigrant Visas,which are next to impossible to get in any other country.
The best place to stay is back in your Home Country.You won’t have any hassles.
OBSERVATION:-
Somehow,most foreighners (especially-white) always feel they are one notch up the rung.They feel they MUST recieve more importance & service, over all else.
As far as “VISA RUNS” are concerned.People should be satisfied that the immigration Dept. IGNORES & turns ablind eye to this activity.They could easili put a stop to this.And believe it Europeann Countries will never allow this.
I remember one country which always refused to stamp on arrival. So that they could just pick on it and ask the person to leave citing illegal entry.That’s Immegration for you.
Stay Cool & Patient.Thais are a beautiful people.Believe me.I’ve been everywhere.If Thai’s SMILE it is NOT artificial.They smile even when something does wrong or in the face of Adversitry. It is in their Nature.Don’t feel any Offence.
Regards.
The comment that K.S. left is more terrifying than Vaitor’s post. Perfectly illustrates the atmosphere of fear being set forth in Thailand. So basically he’s telling Vaitor to shut up or leave. Does he realize that he just solidified the blog post’s argument about no freedom of speech in Thailand? Not to mention that it’s racist and extremist. Journalists exist all over the world – we have to be in countries where we “don’t belong”. “Don’t poke your noses where it’s not needed?” That’s what journalists do, we have to.
Commentor K.S. doth protest alot me thinks.
His first point is false and for obvious reasons i cannot expound on it. his second point is moot since he says freedom of speech is fine but up to a point. that is not freedom of speech. he threatens in his third poinr by telling the journalist to stay in his home country, so that argument is thrown out as well. his observation paragraph is inaccurate, generalizing and childish and the rest is just inconsequential so for all the writing ks did we are left with an empty ridiculous argument written by someone with vested interests clearly.
KS is one scary but completely misguided individual.
I have applied for media visas from several countries, including the USA and the UAE, and didn’t have to undergo ANYTHING like Vaitor went through.
Thailand has been like a kind of Buddhist North Korea recently – scary, odd and off-putting.
And KS should also realise that Thailand has international obligations it is bound to and international laws it needs to follow. Harassing and intimidating journalists is against all the agreements it is signed up to.
Of course, if Thailand doesn’t like being part of the international community it could always shut its borders.
Year zero?
Just stumble uppn this. Congratulation! The Thais authorities are very procedural and statutory folks. They don’t make anything easy.
I am a Thai people, and I would like to explain how Thais love the King. Actually, he is not just the king like other countries’, but the father who has taken good care of people for 60 years.
Thailand is not the western countries, so value, believe and cultural root may be different. We are the Buddhist country. Buddhism teaches us to be grateful to people who foster, or look after you. For example, your parents gave you life and education. When they get old, you have to look after and take good care of them as well, until they pass away, and they will be in our hearts forever. Person who abandon to look after parents is regarded as a bad and lack of morality.
The King is just like our parents. He has looked after us all his life. At the moment Thailand is facing flood crisis, but he never stop helping the people even he is ill. He never abandon his people. Therefore all Thais love him like father.
Love the Thai King and hate the politics,their king is good and wish all his people well, the politics are the ones behind all this folks, Thailand deserve to have their king only and forget Democracy.
I was in North Korea a few weeks back. We had some guides that showed us around the country. During a casual conversation the guide asked me what kind of software we’re doing in Bangkok. I had not mentioned the fact that I work in the software industry. I can now totally see how experiences like that can be unsettling.