Thailand: Lèse-majesté today | New Mandala

Thailand: Lèse-majesté today | New Mandala

 

NICHOLAS FARRELLY, 

14 AUGUST 2015

Longtime New Mandala readers know that we have, over this past decade, paid a great deal of attention to lèse-majesté prosecutions in Thailand.

Flicking through our hundreds of old posts on the topic I am reminded of the big collective effort to put public criticsm of lèse-majesté on the agenda: remember “Arkong“, Suwicha Thakor and Darunee Charnchoengsilpakul, and Chotisak Oonsong and Chiranuch Premchaiporn, and all the rest.

Even those five names remind us that there have been many difficult cases over the years, where the heavy boots of Thailand’s royalist, militarist and even democratic forces have come down hard on individuals judged to have stepped out-of-line. There isn’t a Thai government I can name that hasn’t played the political game when it comes to lèse-majesté.

Some of our detractors like to claim that New Mandala‘s occasional emphasis on this topic distorts our analysis of the overall picture of Thai society and politics. Of course there is much more to the country’s current problems than the restrictions on free expression reinforced by Article 112 of the Criminal Code.

Yet since it seized power in the May 2014 coup, the military regime has insisted on some of the lengthiest lèse-majesté sentences in Thai history. The 30-year sentence recently imposed on Pongsak Sriboonpeng is a case in point. And sadly he’s not alone. The list of Thailand’s political prisoners grows by the month.

Robust international condemnation has followed these soul-destroying sentences, including hard-hitting statements from the United Nations. And yet there is no indication that Thailand’s power brokers are prepared to temper their aggressive prosecutions.

From their perspective the security, indeed the very existence, of the kingdom relies on such harsh punishments, and they make no apologies for stomping out dissent. It’s classic authoritarian posturing. It also works under conditions where many Thais have been led to believe that perceived opponents of the Thai monarchy are the lowest-of-the-low.

Under the current military regime it looks like there is almost no chance of reform to the law. It is just far too useful given the  politics of succession that are swirling around.

What does this mean for the country? Can anything be done about the chilling effect of lèse-majesté?

Nicholas Farrelly is the co-founder of New Mandala, a Fellow in the Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, ANU, and a strong advocate for the study of Thai society.

Chatwadee Rose Amornpat - The Republic of Siam? | New Mandala

The Republic of Siam? | New Mandala
Chatwadee Rose Amornpat, 24 JULY 2015

Bangkok’s Democracy Monument shrouded in darkness. Photo by Natt Muangsiri on flickr.

If I had my way, my troubled home country would not be called Thailand, but the People’s Republic of Siam.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how the Thai people should react to the country’s latest coup led by General Prayuth Chan-ocha.

So far, the people have largely been too scared to say or do anything, because there are thieves in uniform everywhere.

But for me, the problem in Thailand has always been the monarchy and its network. Nothing ever happens in Thailand without the top royal’s approval, and this latest attack against the Thai people is no exception.

Now that the constitution has been illegally “cancelled” by General Prayuth, he has a free hand to do just about anything under the direction and watchful eyes of top royals.

The previous constitution wasn’t democratic either and was, in fact, titled in favour of the country’s elites. For example, the majority of the senators were appointed rather than elected.

The whole political game in Thailand during the past six months has been ludicrous. It has wasted so much money and time, and put Thailand backward in terms of economic progress and prestige.

Top elites and royals have always had the upper hand in Thailand. But I am not sure if they will prevail this time. We, the freedom and democracy loving Thai people inside Thailand and abroad, should move quickly to declare a republic.

This would have three immediate and major effects.

Firstly, everyone would be financially better off, as the Thai king’s personal fortune of some US$30 billion dollars, according to Forbes, could be confiscated and shared among poor Thai people.

Secondly, Article 112, which supports the country’s lese majeste law, would be declared null and void. Political prisoners will be set free. All pending Article 112 cases would be dismissed without prejudice.

All of the country’s brave and patriotic men and women could come home to rebuild a better nation. The ills of the country would then also be openly discussed without fear of reprisal.

Thirdly, the nation would immediately experience a period of political and economic stability, as King Bhumibol’s negative influence in Thai politics is neutralised, putting an end to decades of royal meddling.

Long live democracy and long live the great people of Siam.

Chatwadee Rose Amornpat is based in London. She was charged with lese majeste by the Thai military junta in July 2014. For previous New Mandalacoverage of her situation see this post.