Senators call on govt to declare stand against Nitirat
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Several senators called on the government Monday to clearly declare that it will not support a proposal by the Nitirat group of academics to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code and constitutional provisions related to the King.
The senators made the call during a debate before the Senate started deliberating its official agenda.
The senators voiced concern that the campaign by the Nitirat group to compromise the King’s power through the legal amendments was causing rifts in society.
The senators included Doctor Jeth Siritharanon, Khamnoon Sitthisamarn and Somchai Sawaengkarn.
Jeth said the campaign by the Nitirat academics had already led to severe rifts in society because many people had come out in opposition of the campaign.
Jeth said the many people suspected that the Niitraj academics had ulterior motives behind their campaign.
He said the government should express its official stand as soon as possible, stating clearly that it would not support amendments to the lesemajesty law as proposed by the Nitiraj so that the public could feel assured that the bill would be rejected by the House of Representatives.
Khamnoon said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra should also announce clearly that her Pheu Thai government would not seek to amend articles related to the King when it seeks to amend the 2007 Constitution.
Somchai said the prime minister should also announce that her government had nothing to do with Nitiraj.
Somchai said the prime minister should also order the redshirt leaders to stop supporting the Niitrat group or else the country could erupt in another political crisis.
