Better media protection for monarchy
Panel being set up to strictly enforce laws
- Published: 24/01/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
The Senate has resolved to set up an extraordinary committee to strictly enforce laws to better protect the monarchy following an increasing number of websites found to be offensive to the royal institution.
The Senate yesterday voted 90 to 17 to set up an extraordinary panel to follow up on the enforcement of laws and articles relating to the protection of the monarchy as proposed by appointed senator Khamnoon Sitthisamarn.
The committee, to be headed by national police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan, will comprise 30 members - 19 senators and 11 outsiders.
Currently, there are over 10,000 websites deemed offensive to the monarchy. The Information and Communication (ICT) Ministry has been able to block only 2,000 sites.
The Justice Ministry will coordinate with the Foreign Ministry to launch a campaign among foreigners to educate them about lese majeste laws.
Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga said he would coordinate with the Foreign Ministry to instruct all Thai embassies abroad to launch public relations campaigns about lese majeste laws which impose harsh punishments on those who insult the Thai monarchy.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has threatened to file charges against convicted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra if the latter's recent interview remarks are deemed offensive to key institutions.
Mr Suthep's remark came after Thaksin gave a press interview to the foreign media saying that the Privy Council and the military had had a hand in the formation of the coalition government led by the Democrat party.
He warned the ousted prime minister would be held responsible for his remarks. Thaksin would suffer if he spoke negatively.
Mr Suthep said he would look into Thaksin's recent press interview to see which points were deemed offensive to the country's key institutions before taking any legal steps against him. The printed media that published those remarks would also face action.
Asked about the progress of his plan to hold talks with Thaksin after the former prime minister recently denied having been contacted as claimed, Mr Suthep said he would not go ahead with his plan if Thaksin refused to talk.
Earlier, Mr Suthep told local media that he was in the process of arranging talks with Thaksin to urge him to cease causing political instability.
