Democrats challenge govt over Nitirat 'fake academics'

He also accused Nitirat of not speaking the whole truth because the monarchy institution could not be separated from the issue of national security.

Thai society, said Chavanond, had long existed with both the monarchy institution and lese-majeste law with which the party had no problem whatsoever.

Chavanond said the public must be careful and closely watch proposals by the Nitirat academics. He said the prime minister and the Pheu Thai government should state clearly their stance on the matter as they can no longer say they don’t know anything about it – and they must declare clearly their intention not to cooperate with such a move.

“The Nitirat group is a charlatan society causing misunderstandings that [the lese-majeste law] is problematic. The law never had any problem...Thai people have problems [with the law] because they have been agitated and deceived and because there are fake academics who distort things on a daily basis, sowing social division,” said Chavanond.

“All supporters of Nitirat are red shirts who support the government which is playing a double-game. The PM can’t pretend not to know the matter is affecting the feelings of Thai people by saying that some who support [the move] are doing it [for their own reasons]. The government and Pheu Thai [should] renounce having anything to do with them because the lese-majeste law doesn’t affect people who do not want to overthrow the monarchy.”

Opposition leader and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said people have the right to sign a petition to submit a draft-amended lese-majeste bill to the Parliament. Abhisit said, however, the government must make clear whether it believes the law is problematic or not.

Ten thousand signatures are being collected by Nitirat and its allies to put an amended bill before Parliament. The observation that the supporters of the campaign are also Pheu Thai supporters is something that must be explained by the government, said Abhisit. 

Head government whip Udomdej Rattanasathien said yesterday the coalition parties would not touch the lese-majeste law.

Udomdej said he personally thought Nitirat’s proposal would be confused with the one to amend the constitution. When asked if he thought supporters of Nitirat were also Pheu Thai supporters, Udomdej said people must separate the party from the masses who support it.