Political Prisoners in Thailand is carrying an unconfirmed report about a new lese majeste case, this time in Khon Khaen. The assembled details, for what they’re worth, are here. The folks who run Political Prisoners in Thailand are looking for more information and it seems sensible to spread that call far and wide.

As an aside, when journalists write to me offline looking for information on lese majeste cases my standard response is to encourage them, in the friendliest possible way, to knock on some doors, and try and get some better answers from those who are directly involved. With the current campaign to stamp out dissent apparently picking up speed it seems that a big report or two (perhaps for television?) is what is needed to help explain what is going on. Ideally it would pick up on the issues swirling around succession that are, we must assume, driving much of the current effort to clamp down on potentially critical commentary. I’m not sure if the BBCs, CNNs and Al Jazeeras of this world have a feature of that sort in mind.

Lese majeste isn’t, of course, the biggest issue in mainland Southeast Asia right now (the unfolding economic crisis must take that position) but with Thailand’s finely calibrated global posture as an investment destination and tourism hub there is, understandably, a great deal of interest in all of its internal politics. As I noted yesterday, “this [lese majeste] law provides a window into the priorities and prejudices of the elite as they go about the business of maintaining control.” For that reason, among others, we will continue to provide an outlet for discussion of these cases.