Paiboon to head government panel on lese majeste issue

The committee will divide its tasks into three working groups – including one dealing with the extraditing of violators of the lese majeste law from abroad.

Paiboon’s statement was in line with the government announcing its achievements in the past three months after seizing power on May 22.

Making similar statements yesterday on their ministries were Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda and Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Yutthawong.

The decision on the lese majeste issue was reached after Paiboon met with representatives from the Foreign Ministry, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry and the Department of Special Investigation. Paiboon said Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha had instructed the matter be dealt with systematically in an integrated manner.

Paiboon said he understood many foreign states did not recognise lese majeste acts as a crime and would not extradite the accused; but the Thai government would try to convince them that defaming the monarchy affected the Thai spirit that revered the institution.

The Justice Minister acknowledged that lese majeste charges had been used by some Thais as a tool to seek asylum abroad. The committee would also set up a working group to convince the international community that the law and charges against alleged offenders had nothing to do with politics.

The third working group would ensure that those using social media to defame the monarchy were dealt with. This, said Paiboon, was the responsibility of the ICT Ministry. The committee would also review all lese majeste cases and the so-called anti-monarchist mind map, he added.

In Anupong’s briefing, he said it was the government’s duty to honour the monarchy and protect it from violation. The Interior Ministry would perform its roles on social order, national security, and provision of basic necessities. One major Interior Ministry priority next year was the combating of drought or flooding, he added.

Separately, Yongyuth, who supervises the government’s social issues, said more than 15,000 rai of land had been distributed to 3,000 landless or poor farmers. Assistance had also been given to the disabled, and those with visual or hearing impairments. The per-head monthly allowance for the disabled has been increased to Bt800 from Bt500.