Thailand coalition silent on royal insult law reform
Bangkok, Thailand - Thailand’s government-in-waiting on Monday announced ambitious plans to rewrite the constitution and end military conscription, but made no mention of highly controversial proposals to change royal insult laws.
The eight-party coalition, headed by the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP), inked a deal outlining nearly two dozen policies on which they all agree.
MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat said again on Monday that he was confident of becoming prime minister, but he faces an uphill battle because of opposition within the military-allied Senate to his plans to reform lese-majeste legislation.
“It’s another historic moment that shows we can transform the government to democracy peacefully,” Pita told reporters, noting the deal was being signed on the ninth anniversary of the military coup that brought Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to power. “The purpose of this MOU (memorandum of under
standing) is to collect the agenda that all parties agree and are ready to push in government and parliament.”
MFP and fellow opposition outfit Pheu Thai dominated the May 14 election, in which voters delivered a humiliating defeat to ruling conservative army-linked parties. Monday’s wide-ranging agreement - which gives only broad policy topics - includes a commitment to rewrite the 2017 constitution, which was drawn up by the then-ruling military junta headed by Prayut.
But it contains no mention of plans to reform the royal defamation laws that shield King Maha Vajiralongkorn from criticism.
Pita insists MFP will not back away from its campaign pledge to change the law, but the stance is spooking Thailand’s conservative royalist-military establishment.
Even discussing lese-majeste reform was taboo until recently.