The gift His Majesty wants but we won't give
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Our beloved King wants something that it's easily within our power to give, yet each government, while lauding his sagacity, repeatedly turns a deaf ear to his clearly expressed wishes.
As Grossman and Faulder write in “King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life’s Work”, “Thailand’s law of lèse-majesté has one very prominent critic: King Bhumibol.” The authors note that the King in 2005 conveyed three concerns in his annual televised birthday address. “The king is a human being and as such should be subject to criticism,” he said. He recommended that all lèse-majesté charges be withdrawn and that everyone jailed for the “crime” be released. The law ultimately damages the monarchy, His Majesty declared.
Thaksin & Co and the Democrats alike heard the royal words and not only ignored them but used the law to muzzle critics.
You, dear reader, and I, who love our beloved King, should take the lead. Listen to His Majesty’s wishes, and reform the lèse-majesté law in accordance with the royal desire.
Burin Kantabutra
Bangkok
