Rally calls for lese majeste changes
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The Campaign Committee for Amendment of Article 112 pushed its attempt to change the lese majeste law yesterday by submitting a draft which has been supported by almost 40,000 people.
The group, led by historian and former Thammasat University rector Charnvit Kasetsiri, proposes reducing the penalties in Article 112 of the criminal code, currently set at 3-15 years in jail. They are also calling for the article to be dropped from national security-related laws.
About 300 supporters of the group, including red-shirt leader Jaran Ditapichai, gathered at the Royal Plaza at 9am before marching to Parliament House with 12 boxes of gathered signatures and documents.
People in the rally held posters and banners with messages such as “the right to get bail for the people”, and “112 change is not toppling the monarchy”, while shouting “112 must be changed”.
Deputy House Speaker Wisut Chainaroon received the draft proposal. Among 39,185 signatures the group gathered and submitted, 26,968 were complete with required documents.
The representatives who presented the law draft included Charnvit, historian and political critic Nidhi Eoseewong, Tham-masat law expert Worachet Pakeerut, Chulalongkorn political scientist Puangthong Pawakapan, Rawee Siri-issaranant, alias “Wad Rawee” of the Saeng Samnuek Writers group, and Yukti Mukda-wijitra of Thammasat’s Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology.
Under the 2007 Constitution, 10,000 eligible voters can propose a law in the section of rights and freedom and the fundamental policies of the country.
Wisut said the proposal would be considered fairly like other law proposals. But it might take three to four months to verify the signatures. Puangthong said people accused of violating Article 112 were hit with heavy penalties, such as 10, 13 or 20 years imprisonment. They did not receive merciful conduct or get bail.
In a highly publicised case over SMS or text messages, Ampon Tangnoppakul was convicted last year over four short messages deemed offensive to the monarchy. He was sentenced to five years jail for each – a total of 20 years.
Charnvit said Article 112, as it currently stands, would allow the monarchy to be weakened and abused. He would continue to push for changes although he felt they would not succeed in his lifetime.
