Between the sacred and the profane | Bangkok Post: opinion

COMMENTARY

There is no denying that the institution of the monarchy commands reverence among millions of people in the country. There is no denying either, that the highly revered institution has been dragged through the political muck and, in many instances, treated with utmost contempt by some people. If that were not the case, then why would two successive governments need to appoint high-level commissions to deal with websites and online discussions defaming the monarchy?

Because of the existence of a lese majeste law that allows anybody to sue anyone he or she believes has put the monarchy in a negative light (a very broad description), any honest discussion about the role of the monarchy in the context of vast and rapid political changes, has been few and far between.

Judging from the extremes of opinion regarding the issue that have appeared so far _ from those who wish to make the institution even more sacred, and from those who would rather destroy that notion of holiness _ it is obvious that Thai society needs to talk more constructively about the issue. It is also obvious the silence has been deafening.