Prayuth tells Nitirat group to think again | Bangkok Post: news

LESE MAJESTE

Law professors who demand amendments to the lese majeste law must realise the great contribution which the royal institution has made to the country and learn to help their motherland, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha says.

"They must realise His Majesty the King has reigned for so long that he is 84 years old, and ask whether academics who are 30 or 40 years old and have only furthered their own studies have done any good for the land," he said.

Gen Prayuth was responding to the Nitirat group, legal academics who are demanding amendments to Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law.

He said Thailand owes its presence on the world stage and the respect it commands within the global community to the role of the monarchy. His Majesty the King has done nothing to harm the nation and everything to help it.

"Today, I do not know where some people come from, or if their ancestors were even born in Thailand.

"But if you speak negatively of the monarchy, then I must speak negatively of you, because you refuse to see the good in Thailand," the army chief said.

The nation respects the royal institution, and the Nitirat group _ who say Section 112 stifles freedom of speech _ is hurting people's feelings.

National police chief Gen Priewpan Damapong yesterday vowed to take action against those who violate Section 112. Royal Thai Police Office spokesman Maj Gen Piya Uthayo said special branch police were monitoring comments by academics and would take swift action if anyone breaks the law.

Meanwhile, a cameraman working for the satellite-based Asia Update TV channel is being investigated for alleged lese majeste. Department of Special Investigation deputy chief Yanpol Yangyuen said evidence is being collected against a suspect with a Facebook login name of Tanan Maneewong.