The battle of wits over whether the lese majeste law or Section 112 of the Criminal Code should be amended or left untouched has intensified in academic circles now that all political parties, including the Democrats and Pheu Thai, have reached a consensus that they will leave the law as it is.
Last week, 26 lecturers from five institutes of higher learning _ the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), Thammasat University's Rangsit campus and Sukhothai Thammathirat and Chulalongkorn universities _ announced the formation of a pro-monarchy group called Siam Prachapiwat, apparently to confront the anti-monarchy Nitirat group.
Among the monarchist lecturers are Thaweesak Sutthavathin, Banjerd Singkhaneti, Pichai Rattanadilok na Phuket, Suvicha Pao-aree, Nares Kasaprakorn, Wannatham Kanchasuwan, Thawee Suraritkul, Chaiwat Kongsom, Komsan Pokong, Foonglada Vichienchom, Surasak Maneesorn, Veeravat Chanthachote, Charas Suwanwela, Surat Horachaikul, Chayaporn Wattanasiri, Saknarong Mongkol and Chumpol Chuenchitsiri.
In their five-point manifesto, Siam Prachapitwat has vowed to preserve and promote the monarchy which it regards as valuable to Thai society and the Thai political system and to support political, social and economic reform in order to weed out what it called "dictatorship by capitalist parties". The group has dismissed elections as the only ready-made recipe for democracy and has vowed to address moral or ethical crises which it blames for political monopoly and massive corruption.
To the average person, the group's manifesto is not easy to understand and needs interpretation. It has failed to hit the nail right on the head about what the group actually wants in respect of the lese majeste law.
Or what it has in mind about how to get rid of dictatorship by capitalist parties and what is the alternative to staging an election.
Thanks to Mr Komsan Pokong of Sukhothai Thammathirat University for his clarification of the group's manifesto. He said the group is opposed to any change to the lese majeste law as the law is appropriate. He said the monarchy is not to blame for any of the country's problems.
Another member of the Siam Prachapiwat group, Banjerd Singkhaneti from Nida, insisted the group was not formed to engage in a showdown with the Nitirat group but to offer another option to the people as a vehicle for change for the better.
Meanwhile, the Nitirat group and its allies which include the human rights group of Mahidol University and the red shirts yesterday launched a campaign at Thammasat University to collect signatures from members of the public in order to back its draft bill to amend the lese majeste law, or Section 112 of the Criminal Code.
One troubling aspect of the Nitirat's proposed amendment to the law is that it wants the lese majeste offence not to be treated as a security offence, which means that the King, the Queen, the heir-apparent or the Regent will be treated as an ordinary person in case he or she is defamed, insulted or threatened.
Earlier Piyabut Saengkanokkul, a member of the Nitirat group, suggested that His Majesty the King should not be allowed to address the public on various occasions such as on his birthday anniversary.
His suggestion triggered an uproar from supporters of the monarchy.
Concurrently, the monarchist group led by Dr Tul Sitthisomwong last week also launched a signature campaign among people who oppose any change to Section 112 at Lumpini Park and at the Victory Monument. Without the lese majeste law, Tul said the monarchy would be more vulnerable to offensive remarks and insults.
But quite significant was a move last Saturday by a group of eight "Blue Blood" figures who wrote a letter to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra urging the government to amend the lese majeste law. They include MR Saiswasdi Svasti, MR Saising Siributr, MR Narisra Chakrabong, Vorapot Sindvongs na Ayuddhaya, Gen Krit Kridakara, MR Pavari Suchiva, MR Opas Kanchanavichai and Sumet Jumsai na Ayuddhaya.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission led by Kanit na Nakhon also called for amendments of the law in two areas: the 3-15 years imprisonment should be reduced to a maximum of seven years without the minimum three years jail term; and only the Bureau of the Royal Household should be entitled to file lese majeste complaints to prevent misuse of the law.
The line has been drawn between those who oppose any change to the lese majeste law and those who want the law intact. Both have stepped up their activities for their cause in a peaceful manner. As such, they should be commended for not breaking the law.
How this sensitive issue will be resolved, and when, is anybody's guess. But the Monarchy must be upheld and continue to serve as the nation's guiding light.
Veera Prateepchaikul is a former editor, Bangkok Post.