Bangkok Post, February 7, 2012
Deputy prime ministers Chalerm Yubamrung and Yutthasak Sasiprapa on Tuesday gave their support to national army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha's stand against a group of seven Thammasat law professors who want to change the lese majeste law.
Mr Chalerm said he fully supported Gen Prayuth's opposition to changing Section 112 of the Criminal Code relating to lese majeste.
He called on other armed forces commanders to voice their support for Gen Prayuth on this issue.
"I want to ask the Nitirat group - what can they do if the political sector does not want to amend Section 112? They are not the lawmakers," Mr Chalerm said.
Mr Yutthasak also said he agreed with the army chief. The Nitirat academics should call off their movement, but the authorities should not limit their rights or freedom.
"Some issues should not be raised because they might create division in the country, and anything that defames the monarchy or hurts the Thai people should not be brought up," Gen Yutthasak said.
Navy chief Surasak Roonruangwong said Nitirat would not succeed in getting the lese majeste law amended and should cease their efforts.
"I think all the armed forces are following this group's activities to see if it will affect national security. I agree with the majority of people that the campaign serves no purpose at all," Adm Surasak said.
The navy commander-in-chief chief said he wanted all those involved to bear in mind that the country is in existence today because past kings made sacrifices for the kingdom.
"We have to uphold the high institution. I think they [Nitirat] should call a halt to their movement for the sake of national security and unity," he said.
Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Natthawut Saikua said Nitirat is acting within the law under a democratic system in seeking to amend the lese majeste law, but people should show discretion when reacting to this issue.
Mr Natthawut, a core member of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said if Nitirat did anything in breach of the law then the responsible agencies would look into the matter.
However, if the government acted in a way that obstructed the people's freedom of expression, it could lead to conflict in society as happened in the past.
"Society must exercise discretion. From what happened in the past, we have learned that the obstruction of freedom of expression can bring about unfavourable results," the Pheu Thai list MP said.
The red-shirt co-leader said the moves being made by Nitirat were not linked to the government or the Pheu Thai Party, but some people had tried to exploit this matter to confuse the people.
He said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Pheu Thai had clearly distanced themselves from this movement.
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