....on Lese Majeste

For those who are unfamiliar with Lese Majeste, it is a law in Thailand that can get you sent to jail for a very long time if you were to insult the King of Thailand.

There are discussions continuously taking place on sites like New Mandela, which encourage open debate not only about the LM law, but for many other issues in Thailand.

Since arriving in Thailand, I have been made very aware of the Thai's extreme sensitivity with regards their King, and so have always been careful about voicing opinions about him. I have never had a problem with this, as it soon becomes apparent anyway that the vast majority of Thai's hold the King very dear to their hearts. Every home or business house a large picture of him and / or other members of the Royal family (example above), traffic stops and people gather if members of the Royal Family are to drive through the town that day / or down a particular road. If a member of the Royal Family visits your home or business (and this does happen, more often than you would believe...) the owners often seal a room after the visit, to preserve the presence of the visiting Royal.

It's well known. The Thai's love their King, and the Royal Family. The main problem with the Lese Majeste law is that it is believed to be a tool wielded by the political and urban 'elite' of Bangkok to keep dissenters and political opponents down.

No doubt the law has been abused in the past, but unfortunately you see this with other laws in Thailand, and there are lots of dark tales of innocent people being jailed over nothing. I have no doubt there is truth there, but, this is part of a wider problem of corruption within the authority institutions of Thailand.

So, why do so many foreigners and 'academics' call for the law to be dissolved on sites like New Mandela? Surely the decision on whether the law stays or not is firmly in the hands of the Thais. I asked Sutiya, 'if I went out into the street and insulted the King in some grand way, and got jailed for three years, what would you think about LM?' She told me flat that it would serve me right.....And there it is.

You find this with the vast majority of Thai's you talk to. They won't tolerate people insulting the King, whether they are PAD, UDD, UBC or anyone else, and then you have the liberal elite the other side, with tales of injustice and corruption, demanding the law is demolished.

I don't personally see why it should be reformed. Why shouldn't the Thai's protect their King and the Royal Family? Why shouldn't they throw foreign idiots in jail, who come along and try to erode the rules because they are after making a quick buck?

And what of the consequences should it be abolished? Do I want to see Thai stand-up comedians, talking about sleeping with members of the Royal Family? Do I want the press to be able to write nonsense and lies just to sell a few papers?

Not especially.

If the law is abolished, once it's gone, it's gone, and that means a little part of Thailand has gone with it. Plus, I often think those who want it removed are simply anti-Monarchy. Why these people prefer to put power directly into the hands of politicians God only knows? Especially in a country like Thailand.

I acknowledge that there are problems associated with LM and that these can be troubling, but, I believe strongly that the choice is for the Thai's. I don't have a problem with Thailand wanting to protect their King, their Royal Family, their land, their country.

Comments

[Jon]

I personally find the issue with LM is context - there simply isn't any. It forbids all criticism, even when constructive. This leaves the law open to abuse against those making constructive points towards Thailand's fragile political system.

There's an interesting post from Bangkok Bugle who makes a similar point to your own, worth a read - http://www.bangkokbugle.com/2009/02/my-first-focus-column-tackles-issue-of.html

[Ben Shingleton]

I agree with you Jon. I can't help it myself, I am completly behind the Thai Royal Family, I see them as an integral part of the Thai way of life, and beneficial to Thailand for a host of reasons. The red shirts relationship / beliefs with regards the Thai Royal Family I find at best, cloudy, and I think if the rs could sort that out, they would garner far more support, for me there is no doubt that this confusion effects potential support they could have. The idea that Thailand could or should one day be a republic I find so weird / crazy I think those that support the notion have some kind of destructive personality disorder LOL. For me Jon I can't help it, I like the fact that those who are here and those that travel here have to respect the Thai Royal Family.

[Ben Shingleton]

Having said all that, I also think, as a foreigner, it really has nothing to do with me either..... :)

[Jon]

Hey Ben, I definitely agree re the role of the royal family. You only have to look at Red/Yellow movements to see that, without the uniting factor of the Royals, Thailand would be an absolute mess.

Successor to the King will be critical for the country's future, particularly with recent events. An interesting time to be living in Thailand, for sure.

Totally agree with your foreigner point, you have to take a country for how it is.