Govt shot itself in foot with lese majeste warning
Re: “Ministry tells public to shun on social media three lese majeste suspects”, National News, April 12.
No matter how hard the Thai government tries to bring lese majeste suspects from overseas to be tried in Thailand, it will meet with failure, because foreign countries do not have the same legal philosophy as Thailand’s lese majeste law.
By warning Thais not to associate online with lese majeste suspects overseas, the government will only make these suspects feel even more self-important.
Immediately after this warning was made, a lese majeste suspect who lives and teaches in Japan declared that it would make him even more popular in academic circles outside of Thailand. He said he expects to get more lecturing jobs now thanks to the publicity for criticising his home country.
The Prayut Chan-o-cha government should focus on bringing the country back to democracy on time, and avoid doing things that are of no significance – such as issuing unwise warnings.
Vint Chavala
