The media should not give so much importance to the group of law academics who want the lese majese law amended, Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said Wednesday.
"It is the media that monitors and releases news, and if the media didn't give any value to the issue [lese majeste] it would be over soon.
"The more the media talks about the high institution, the more impact it will have. I ask the media not to make the issue (lese majeste reform) a news story too often," ACM Sukumpol said.
Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat
He said the army had been closely following the movements to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code relating to lese majeste.
Pheu Thai party list MP and spokesman Prompong Nopparit called on the Nitirat group of law lecturers from Thammasat University to stop being stubborn about wanting the lese majeste law changed.
Since the Nitirat group proposed that Section 112 of the Criminal Code and Article 8 of the constitution should be amended, it had faced strong social opposition, he said.
"The Nitirat group should listen to the feedback, because their proposal does not benefit the people.
"When there's opposition from all sides, it's time for Nitirat to stop being stubborn and to review its position," Mr Prompong said.
The Nitirat lecturers should instead support the government's move to amend the 2007 charter, because it was drafted by a body appointed by leaders of the 2006 coup. The group would certainly garner much more support this way, he added.
"Pheu Thai is not linked with the Nitirat group but there's an ill-intentioned group of people who want to create this link in order to criticise the government and Pheu Thai," said Mr Prompong.
Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut
Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said the government, the Pheu Thai Party and members of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship were abandoning the Nitirat group's bid to amend Section 112.
At a press briefing, Mr Chavanond showed a YouTube video clip of Pheu Thai list MP Sunai Julapongsathorn giving a speech on a UDD stage and there was a clear sign saying "We Don't Want Section 112" on the same stage.
The opposition spokesman also showed another YouTube video clip showing UDD chairwoman Thida Thavornseth saying that the red-shirt group comprises two arms - the right arm is the red-shirt supporters, and the left is the Nitirat group.
He said the ties between the government, Pheu Thai, red-shirt members, "the person living in Dubai" and the Nitirat group was clear.
This relationship would create benefits for both sides as former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra wanted the consequences of the 2006 coup removed while the Nitirat group wanted amendments to the lese majeste law.
"It's a perfect combination between a capitalist group and lunatic academics," said the Democrat spokesman said.
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