Bangkok post, December 16, 2011
The controversy over Article 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law, is heating up with royalist group Siam Samakkhi (United Siam) deploring the UN, the US and the European Union for "attempting to interfere" in the country's judicial system.
The group said the critics lacked understanding of the constitutional monarchy after they called for reforms of the lese majeste law.
The international community appears troubled by recent court rulings in two lese majeste cases. It says they are inconsistent with international standards of freedom of expression.
Siam Samakkhi said criticism of the lese majeste law is based on partial information and a lack of understanding about the consequences of violating the lese majeste law.
"Their use of the freedom of expression claim is without regard for the respect for the rights or reputation of others and national security. And it might also provoke hatred and violent conflicts," said Gen Somjet Boonthanom, the group's leader.
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The group took the government to task for shying away from protecting the constitutional monarchy and being tolerant to violations of the law and attempts to undermine faith in the monarchy by a politically driven group.
Siam Samakkhi today plans to submit a petition to the UN and the US embassy to protest against their stance.
The UN and US earlier expressed concerns over the harsh sentencing of people convicted of lese majeste following verdicts handed down against Amphon Tangnoppakul and US national Lerpong Wichaikhammat, also known as Joe Gordon.
Amphon was sentenced on Nov 23 to 20 years in jail for sending four text messages insulting the monarchy, while Lerpong was sent to jail for two and a half years for posting a link to a book about His Majesty the King that is banned in Thailand.
Tul Sitthisomwong, a member of Siam Samakkhi, said reactions by the international community took him by surprise. "They might have received some information from lobbyists. The fact is the defendants went through a proper trial," he said.
Suriyasai Katasila, coordinator of the Green Politics group, yesterday warned advocates of attempts to reform the lese majeste law not to be used as political tools by those with an intent to subvert the institution.
While some advocates seek to reform the law to prevent it from being politically manipulated, others want it to be abolished entirely, he said.
He said some of those who support reforms may be misled and are being used by those with a hidden agenda.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has also come out to defend the lese majeste law, saying article 112 is not aimed at curbing people's rights to freedom of opinion and expression nor the legitimate exercise of academic freedom, including debates about the monarchy as an institution.
"As in other democratic societies, Thais enjoy their constitutional rights, including the rights to freedom of opinion and expression," Thani Thongphakdi, director-general of the Department of Information, said.
But those who abuse their rights by spreading hate speeches or distorted information to incite violence and hatred among Thais as well as towards the monarchy in contravention of the law have to be held accountable in accordance with the law, Mr Thani said.
Meanwhile, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry yesterday defended its planned procurement of a 400 million baht lawful interception (LI) system for blocking objectionable website content.
It said the system was only intended to enhance the state's ability to screen online content that insults the monarchy.
Critics said a tighter monitoring system to counter anti-monarchy messages on the internet could threaten civil rights and internet freedom.
Minister Anudith Nakornthap said the ministry is studying the feasibility of using the LI system to monitor lese majeste websites, and should be finished within a week.
The ICT ministry has blocked more than 60,000 URLs, or web pages, during the past three months, compared to 73,000 during the last three years under the Democrat government, he said.
Thai Royalists step into lese majeste row
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