Action on lese majeste is overdue
Play
Again, our beloved King shows why his subjects love him so much, by pardoning political activist and red shirt Surachai Danwatananusorn, 72, who was sentenced in 2010 to 12 years 6 months' jail for violating the lese majeste law, and who has served three
Our King’s stand on the lese majeste law is very clear, for 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.” (“King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life’s Work”, p313).
PM Yingluck, like her brother and then-PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, remains deaf and blind to His Majesty’s words and actions on lese majeste law reform, despite HM being very graciously accepting that he might be wrong, and despite Yingluck’s having had several royal audiences during which she could have sought clarification.
If you believe His Majesty to be correct, then you, dear reader, should ask why Yingluck is deliberately damaging the monarchy by ignoring his clear call for action.
Burin Kantabutra
Bangkok
