Why do we continue to ignore HM the King?

Passion runs high in the Akong lese-majeste case, with Pavin Chachavalpongun concluding, “Monarchists are the ones who breed anti-monarchists”. Ajarn Sulak Sivaraksa, a professed monarchist being prosecuted under the said law, might find the outburst ironical.

The King himself came out very clearly against the law. I quote from the recently launched book under the supervision of former PM Anand Panyarachun – King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life’s Work (Editions Didier Millet, page 313). “Thailand’s law of lese-majeste has one very prominent critic: King Bhumibol.… In 2005, after an increase in politically inspired lese-majeste complaints, King Bhumibol used his annual televised birthday address to convey three concerns:

“The king, he said, is a human being and as such should be subject to criticism.

“Charges against those accused of lese-majeste should be dropped, and those held in jail for lese-majeste should be released.

“The use of the lese-majeste law ultimately damages the monarchy.”

So I fail to understand why successive governments and the concerned authorities have not taken notice of His Majesty’s complaint. Or is there a darker side to this matter?

Sumet Jumsai

Bangkok