Bangkok Post

About 500 academics, diplomats, members of the foreign media, and social activists turned up at Thammasat University yesterday to give support to Mr Somsak, who held a news conference about the threats he has received as a result of his comments concerning the role of the monarchy.

Mr Somsak, an associate professor of history at Thammasat's Faculty of Arts, said he has received anonymous phonecalls over the past two weeks, warning him that security authorities are keeping a close watch on him and are on standby to arrest him.

Somsak: Unbowed about speaking out

His Facebook page has just been shut down and police have said a lese majeste clause of the Criminal Code's article 112 will be invoked against him.

Army chief Prayuth Chanocha also slammed an academic who "tries to destroy the monarchy" during an interview earlier this month.

Although the army chief did not name names, Mr Somsak said such acts, together with the military's frequent show of force, had created a climate of fear in society.

He said the moves could stem from his public lectures and academic articles on the role of the monarchy.

In one of his most controversial lectures on Dec 10 last year, Mr Somsak proposed an eight-point plan on the reform of the monarchy. He said he never proposed to overthrow the monarchy, but has systematically proposed its role be reformed.

"My eight-point proposal is perhaps nothing new from what the people talk about in private. I believe that only by speaking in an open and academic manner, can the [monarchy] institution be strengthened," said Mr Somsak, who was a former student leader during the Oct 6, 1976, upheaval.

Mr Somsak said if he was charged, he would defend himself according to the law and would not attempt to flee, so there was no need to create a climate of fear.

"I reaffirm my idea that the role of the monarchy should be fairly debated among the public," Mr Somsak said. "The people should not be silenced when their views are different from the official tone." Worachet Pakeerut, Thammasat's public law professor and member of the Enlightened Jurists which organised yesterday's news conference, said no one had proposed a change from constitutional monarchy.

"Mr Somsak, along with other intellectuals such as our group, has only been upholding their academic duty to defend the diminishing free, democratic thinking space," Mr Worachet said.

Well known international intellectuals including La Trobe University's Michael Conners and Australian National University's Craig Reynolds have also issued a statement expressing their grave concern over the recent harassment and threats made against Mr Somsak.

The recent intimidation of academics, media professionals and ordinary people in connection with lese majeste is symptomatic of a broader set of practices which gravely threaten the exercise of rights and the future of democracy in Thailand, the statement said.

"Those in power must realise that discussion and criticism _ not blind loyalty _ are necessary in a functioning democracy," they said.