Thai protest defies Govt charges

Pro-democracy demonstrators in Thailand took to the streets of the capital again yesterday as the Government escalated its legal battle against them, reviving the use of a harsh law against defaming the monarchy.

Their rally was peaceful, but less than two hours after it was declared over and many in the crowd were lingering, a man was shot and wounded, according to initial reports of emergency service personnel and witnesses’ accounts and photos posted on social media.

On Wednesday police issued summonses for 12 protest leaders to answer charges of lese majeste, or defaming or insulting key members of the royal family. The offence is punishable by up to 15 years in prison per incident. Most of the protest leaders are already facing various other charges ranging from blocking traffic to sedition.

The lese majeste law is controversial because anyone — not just royals or authorities — can lodge a complaint, and it has been used in the past as a weapon in political vendettas.

But it has not been employed for the past three years after King Maha Vajiralongkorn informed the Government that he did not wish to see its use. The king has not publicly commented on the law since then.

The protesters want the monarchy reformed to make it more accountable. They also want Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his Government to step down and for the military-implemented constitution to be amended to make it more democratic.