The greatest critic of the lèse-majesté law is the King
We should not be appalled that the UN is appalled at the long prison terms recently handed down for lèse-majesté in Thailand, since our beloved and sage King advised us on this topic a decade ago.
“Thailand’s law of lèse-majesté has one very prominent critic: King Bhumibol,” authors Grossman & Faulder observed in their 2012 book “King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life’s Work”, which is widely available.
After an increase in politically inspired lèse-majesté complaints, the King said in his 2005 birthday address to the nation: “Charges against those accused of lèse-majesté should be dropped, and those held in jail for lèse-majesté should be released. The use of the lèse-majesté law ultimately damages the monarchy.”
We rightfully praise our King for his wisdom. Surely he is also an expert on the monarchy. We should give his advice the careful, thoughtful consideration it deserves – for if he is correct, then we are damaging the very institution we hold in the highest regard.
Burin Kantabutra
