Government badly needs reining in

It is very sad that an old man dies of cancer whilst serving a prison sentence. It is poignant that he had another 18 years to serve. There are suggestions that he may not have carried out the deed that led to his imprisonment, although I read elsewhere that he was seeking a pardon. The lese majeste law is a reasonable measure to protect the King. The extent of the rules is subject to debate. Campaign against the law but until the law is changed, people know what they may expect if they breach it.

A more worrying part of the story was that he was arrested in the “reign” of the Democrats (a clear case of lese majeste). The problem is that Pheu Thai and their absent leader believe that government “reigns” (as per Thaksin’s claim to Der Spiegel last year). There is too much interference with the legal process. The police and the courts are the authorities for administration of the law, in other countries. Their inactivity in Thailand is worrying. The lese majeste law is the exception that proves the rule. It is overly harsh and is applied frequently. Laws to stop corrupt politicians (I presume there are some) seem to go by the board, wildly extravagant lies are believed and the blindingly obvious goes unnoticed. I believe that stealing the country blind is a far worse crime and more lese majeste than anything poor Akong was guilty of.

Richard Bowler

Bangkok