Tough action sought over lese majeste
The Lawyers Council of Thailand yesterday submitted a petition demanding that the government crack down harder on groups behind insulting remarks against the monarch, as well as doctored photos posted online.
LCT chairman Sak Korsaengruang said the petition was submitted to Deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who has been appointed chairman of a committee tasked with cracking down on websites deemed offensive to the monarchy.
The petition said that the insults in cyberspace were spreading because police and the Information and Communications Technology Ministry had failed to deal with the offenders, which could be considered as negligence under the Constitution.
The LCT then requested the police chief and the ICT minister to jointly form a special force to monitor, examine and investigate offences against the monarch.
Suspects arrested on such charges should be divided into two categories: those who intended to topple the monarch and those who merely acted impetuously.
The first group should be prosecuted according to the law while the second should be informed of the facts so that they would have a better understanding of their misdeeds.
The LCT will also forward the petition to the ICT and Justice ministries as well as the Royal Thai Police.
