22.03.09 First ever open lese majeste law discussion
Source: Bangkok Post
Flattering the monarchy for political purposes
could become a crime under a proposal discussed at a lese majeste forum
yesterday.
Interpretation and enforcement of Article 112 of the Criminal Code
was a key issue during the first ever open discussion of the law.
The forum was held amid public complaints that the law was now being
treated as a political tool. According to Article 112, a person found
guilty of lese majeste can be sentenced to between three and 15 years
in prison.
Nidhi Eowsriwong, an independent historian, said Thailand needed to
clearly define the boundaries of the law so that it would not be
exploited in the future.
Tharit Pengdit, secretary-general of the Public Sector
Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and a representative of the Justice
Ministry, said the ministry has worked out three solutions to
discourage the exploitation of the law: increasing the penalties,
improving its enforcement, and making its interpretation clear to
prevent people from taking advantage of the law.
The ministry would also propose a provisional law criminalising
those flattering the monarchy for their own political purposes, said Mr
Tharit.
Asst Prof Somchai Preechasilpakul from Chiangmai University proposed
that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) should be the only one
allowed to bring a criminal lawsuit against those suspected of
committing lese majeste, not every Tom, Dick and Harry like at present.
Tongthong Chandrangsu, a former deputy permanent secretary for justice, said the core issue was interpretation and enforcement.
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