Foreign-based academics, experts back Nitirat group

It said the signatories, most based overseas, backed Nitirat’s Campaign Committee for the Amendment of Article 112. They agreed that reform to the lese-majeste law was necessary to protect the basic rights of Thai citizens and supported the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law in a broad sense. 

They also expected Nitirat’s proposed amendment draft to help address the abuse of Article 112 by treating violations of the clause as within the legal category of insulting the honour of the monarchy, rather than as violations of national security.

A copy of the letter was obtained by The Nation yesterday.

The group expressed concern over a “growth in the number of accusations levelled and prosecutions carried out under Article 112, as Thai society has become increasingly polarised along political and ideological lines”.

The letter said, “Article 112 has become a powerful tool to silence political dissent, and in particular, any dissent interpreted as disloyalty to the institution of the monarchy”. 

Rachel Harrison, a scholar of Thai cultural studies at the University of London, said the letter was to “show our courageous Thai colleagues who are seeking reform that they are not alone. This issue is, and will be, closely monitored internationally”. 

Among the Thai signatories to the letter were Giles Ji Ungpakorn, who is abroad to escape a charge of lese majeste, Payap University lecturer Napisa Waitoolkiat, Piya Pangsapa, senior lecturer at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, and Adadol Ingawanij, senior research fellow at Westminster University in Britain. 

Others were Preedee Hongsaton, a PhD candidate at the Australian National University, Pilapa Esara, assistant professor at the State University of New York, Pavin Chachavalpongpun, research fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Pongphisoot Busbarat, research associate at the Australian National University, and Poowin Bunyavejchewin, alumnus of University of Hull in Britain. Chris Baker, an independent scholar based in Thailand, is also among the supporters.

Signatories to the letter are from 16 countries and territories, namely Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, and the United States.

In a related development, opposition Democrat Party spokesman Chavanont Intarakomalyasut said yesterday he considered Nitirat an ally of the red shirts and the ruling Pheu Thai Party, although government figures were distancing themselves from Nitirat’s controversial proposals about the monarchy.

During his press conference, Chavanont also played video recordings to support his claim. These included a video clip showing a Pheu Thai MP addressing a red-shirt rally in which a banner with the message “No to Article 112” was displayed. He also said the red-shirt movement’s chairwoman Thida Thawornseth once described Nitirat as its “left hand” and said, “Although they do not wear red shirts, they and we have the same mind.”