Sulak contests academic's version of how he got 'royal pardon for lese majeste'

On Wednesday, Thepmontri had claimed via Facebook that he was the one who had drafted a pardon appeal for Sulak for violating Article 112 on lese majeste due to his speech at Thammasat University allegedly defaming King Naresuan the Great.
Sulak had questioned whether King Naresuan’s famous elephant battle during the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 16th century had actually occurred.
Thepmotri called Sulak “ungrateful” after Sulak joined anti-government protesters in calling on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to resign and demanding the government to stop applying the lese-majeste defamation law against people who criticise the monarchy.
Sulak had delivered his speech at the protest site in front of Siam Commercial Bank’s headquarters on Wednesday night.
“I wrote the appeal myself, while Thepmontri played no role in editing,” said Sulak via his Facebook page on Friday.
“The King invited me [via Thammasat University] to have a talk at Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall after the Thammasat Graduation Ceremony in 2017, and Thepmontri said he was happy to drive me there, so I went with him.
“I went in to have a talk with the King in private, while Thepmontri was waiting outside. He later drove me home and I thanked him for driving me,” he said. “Although I already had someone else willing to drive me that day, I let him do it as he had already volunteered and seemed to be familiar with the palace.
“That was the last time we met. I have never criticised him in the past three years, and I will not be mad at him for criticising me,” added Sulak.
On November 12, the 88-year-old Sulak gave an interview to The Momentum, criticising the lese majeste law.
“The King should have advisers who dare to criticise him, not ones who agree with all his decisions,” he said.
“It is true that the monarch should be revered, but it should also be open to respectful criticism,” Sulak said.
Sulak also said he supports the ongoing movement to reform the monarchy, and added that the monarchy as a system must be periodically adjusted to suit the changing era instead of opposing it.