Bangkok (AP) — A magazine editor in northern Thailand has apologized to the governor of Chiang Mai after he threatened her with criminal charges for posting on Facebook a painting by a high school student of ancient kings wearing pollution masks.
Citylife Chiang Mai magazine had sought to draw attention to the unsolved problem of seasonal air pollution caused by crop burning and traffic that drives air quality in the region to unhealthy and sometimes dangerous levels.
The magazine on Friday posted a letter signed by Chiang Mai Gov. Pavin Chamniprasart recommending police charge the publication with being disrespectful to the kings and endangering tourism. Editor Pim Kemasingki could be liable to up to five years’ imprisonment under the Computer Crime Act, which has several broad provisions, including criminal penalties for undermining national security and entering false information into computer systems.
“To present the image of having a mask placed on the three kings is a blasphemous act, disrespectful, and affects the hearts of the people of Chiang Mai,” said the letter, which stated that publishing the images violated the Computer Crime Act. “It also affects the image of Chiang Mai which would affect tourism and lead to unstable economics in the province of Chiang Mai,” it said.
Pim said Monday she had sought only to raise awareness of the health issue, and had called the governor personally to apologize.
The provincial government has been criticized for not being more active in addressing the haze problem.
The governor did not respond Monday to requests seeking comment. His secretary stated he was attending meetings all day about the smog.
The controversy also caused the magazine to cancel an anti-pollution rally it had planned for last Friday.
“Our intention was to create a positive gathering of concerned citizens and residents to petition the government to give us correct and greater information about the annual air pollution and the dangers it poses to our health,” Pim wrote in an online message. “Unfortunately, there are elements in society with unknown agendas who have used our well-intentioned event to create chaos and plant seeds of suspicion about our intentions.
“We have recently been warned by many members of the media, government and related organizations that our event may be hijacked by ill-intentioned people who wish to cause chaos,” she wrote, adding that she regarded some of these warnings as threats.
The painting was made by a 12th grade high school student.
Pim said she appreciated the painting because she also paints herself. “I’m also an artist, I paint, and I saw this as a piece of art. I apologize to everyone if I didn’t think it through properly, but I meant no harm.”
