PT, army, police all back lese majeste law | Bangkok Post: news

The Pheu Thai Party stands firm in proposing the amendment of Section 291 of the constitution, but will not touch Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese majeste law, government chief whip Udomdet Rattanasathien said on Wednesday.

Mr Udomdet said Pheu Thai wanted Section 291 of the constitution amended to make way for the formation of a constitution drafting assembly, which would require the people's participation and was likely to be more acceptable than other forms of charter-writing bodies.

The government would definitely not seek to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code regarding lese majeste, he said.

The chief government whip said the Nitirat group of law lecturers from Thammasat University had the right to propose the amendment of the lese majeste law, but the government would not get involved.

Mr Udomdet said he expected draft constitutional amendments from various groups such as Pheu Thai and other coalition parties, as well as the people's sector, would be submitted to the House of Representatives for consideration in February.

The constitutional amendment process in the House was expected to begin in March, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung