Let’s see some sense

Re: “Thanathorn sets eye on premier’s job”, ( BP, May 28).

Thammasat law lecturer Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, new Future Forward secretarygeneral, was a key member of law academics seeking to amend the constitution and laws such as Section 112 of the Criminal Code, which is the lese majeste law.

Our beloved national father, the late HM Rama IX, would be the most authoritative person on how to protect the monarchy, and: “Thailand’s law of lese majeste has one very prominent critic: King Bhumibol. In 2005, he used his annual birthday address to convey the following concerns: (a) Charges against those accused of lese majeste should be dropped, and those held in jail for lese majeste should be released; (b) The use of the lese-majeste law ultimately damages the monarchy. When criticism (of the King) is prohibited and people are jailed for lese majeste, the damage is done to the King.” (Nicholas Grossman and Dominic Faulder, King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life’s Work, page 313, available at all major bookstores).

I should add that HM Rama 9 lived by his beliefs, for when my friend, who judged a Royal Varuna Yacht Club competition in which HM Rama 9 raced, called out a rule violation by HM, HM told him afterwards that my friend was right, and abided by the ruling.

As arrests and jail sentences for alleged Section 112 violations have surged dramatically during the past four years, I suggest that all parties should publicly debate whether “the use of the lese-majeste law ultimately damages the monarchy” or not — and act accordingly.

BURIN KANTABUTRA