In the name of the king

COMMENTARY

Published: 17/04/2011 at 03:22 AM
Newspaper section: News

To manipulate is to falsify to one's own advantage. To exploit is to take advantage to one's own ends. To abuse is to misuse according to one's own agenda.

Since 1908, the Thai Criminal Code has carried a prohibition against lese majeste.

The 1932 Constitution, and all of the 17 subsequent versions since, including the 2007 edition, contained the clause: ''The King shall be enthroned in a position of revered worship and shall not be violated. No person shall expose the King to any sort of accusation or action.''

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About the author

: Writer: Voranai Vanijaka; Position: Political and Social Commentator

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nns
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Discussion 22 : 19/04/2011 at 08:17 AM22
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In a more progressive sense of the term, lese majeste can be expanded to include offense against any heads of state although to be truly progressive the merit of the law itself should be scrutinized in terms of enforcement and punishment. One only needs to ask oneself this question: will this law be valid only for a priod of time, or will it be looked at entirely differently in the foreseeable future?
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wantmyony
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Discussion 21 : 18/04/2011 at 11:56 AM21
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Keep the law, expand the law to include other countries too.
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gazza
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Discussion 20 : 18/04/2011 at 10:05 AM20
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A brave and elegant high wire act achieved with balance and poise. Bravo Khun Voranai!
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piriformis
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Discussion 19 : 18/04/2011 at 12:29 AM19
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"To charge lese majeste frivolously is to exploit the King frivolously."
BAM! POW! SNAP! POP!
A brilliant flash of the obvious well articulated and precisely placed.
Your point is well taken.
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rpt777
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Discussion 18 : 17/04/2011 at 08:11 PM18
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I agree with the article 100%, I also note as I see others have that many if not most of there comments are not published....most of mine never appear...even those that are not in the remotest mind would be considered inflamitory. we all wonder... why is that? does it have anything to do with the content of this article?
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lazar
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Discussion 17 : 17/04/2011 at 08:07 PM17
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BP should not be in the media business if it is to terrified to print everyones opinions
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peter1956
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Discussion 16 : 17/04/2011 at 05:47 PM16
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A very good piece to read. While there is nothing new in the article and I personally do not agree with everything in it, the author was extremely articulate and was able to make his point so powerful. Nobody could have said it better. Congrats to Khun Voranai!
But I do wonder if such writings could bring about any real change to Thailand on this sensitive issue.
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pointoffew
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Discussion 15 : 17/04/2011 at 04:02 PM15
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Glad to read that Khun Voranai has the courage to write what many people have been thinking and discussing in private for many years and to see that the BP has allowed this article, where it still deletes the "submit comment" option on some of its pages regarding the same issue...
Even references to the speech of His Majesty the King on the occasion of his birthday in 2005 (published in the BP!) were recently blocked by the BP.

May this be the beginning of a mature, open and fair discussion on freedom of speech and press and democracy. May Thailand return to be the Land of Smiles, rather than of prosecution based fear and paranoia.
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micklan
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Discussion 14 : 17/04/2011 at 03:55 PM14
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It all seems a bit immature. Like "tit for tat", telling on each other, it achieves zero. How do the Maroi, GB, Danish, Tongan, Swedish, Zulu and Saudi Royal Families et al cope?

(But thanks for the article, each Sunday these are thought provoking to say the very least)...
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cockeral
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Discussion 13 : 17/04/2011 at 03:39 PM13
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The wisdom of His Majesty is well demonstrated in the speech referred to in this piece. It is a repugnant that those who use the Les Majeste law for their own political or personal gain, (and there would appear to be many) choose to ignore His Majesty and in so doing place him in the invidious position where others might believe that his great reputation is at risk. His reputation is simply too solid to ever be at risk.
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