You're on your own, red shirts tell Nitirat

You're on your own, red shirts tell Nitirat

A campaign engineered by the Nitirat group to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code appears to be going nowhere, due to rising opposition from members of the public, the red shirts and the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

A red shirt protester holds a placard saying ‘‘Stop 112’’, demanding abolition of Section 112 of the Criminal Code which deals with lese majeste offences.

Nitirat's rationale _ that amending the controversial legislation will actually help maintain the monarchy _ has failed to convince. The amendment camp is struggling to collect 10,000 signatures to petition the House Speaker for such a change. With Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra having taken the position that the article will be left untouched while the government pushes for a constitution amendment, it is all but a certainty that any bid to amend Section 112 will be killed in parliament.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) has distanced itself from the Nitirat campaign, even though many red shirt members agree that the lese majeste law needs changing.

Acting chief of the red shirts, Tida Tawornseth, said there were no links between Nitirat and the UDD in this effort. Ties between Nitirat supporters and the red shirts were on an individual basis only, she said, so this should not be interpreted as the two groups working side by side. The campaign to amend the lese majeste law has brought about constructive debate in the country, and it was normal to see those in favour and those against coming out to make their positions clear, she said. "I advocate any attempt to see society move out of darkness and evolve into an intellectual society," she explained.

Nisit Sinthuprai, another key red shirt member and former Roi Et MP, showed no surprise at the initial support some UDD and Pheu Thai members had expressed for Nitirat's mission, because such an amendment would be in line with their policy. But now their opposition to the amendment was due to Nitirat's "progressive" and new proposal _ which, while maintaining the royal institution, wants at the same time to see the monarchy as a defender of the constitution against any military coups.

‘‘ Opponents of Nitirat also believe that this group of academics intends to bring about an end to the royal institution. NISIT SINTHUPRAI KEY RED SHIRTMEMBER

"Opponents of Nitirat also believe that this group of academics intends to bring about an end to the royal institution," Mr Nisit said.

"It's very normal that any progressive proposal coming at an improper time will face opposition because of its bad timing, as Thai society still strictly adheres to the institution of the monarchy," he said. The UDD's leading member admitted there was no chance of such an amendment sailing through parliament since the government had already spelled out its position on this matter.

Mr Nisit said more time was needed to make the public thoroughly understand that such an amendment would not affect the highest institution and would not drag the monarchy into politics. At present the public did not truly understand Nitirat's move and the debate was based on emotion, not reason, he added.

"At least Nitirat's proposal will not be a complete waste," he said. "It has already created public awareness. As far as Pheu Thai is concerned, the party realises that the issue is not acceptable at present and so should be put on hold."

Pheu Thai's decision has nothing to do with Nitirat because there are no links between the two groups regarding this aspect, even though they maintain a common stance against military coups, according to Mr Nisit.

Korkaew Pikulthong, another key UDD figure and Pheu Thai MP, said that despite the lack of support from the ruling party, Nitirat's campaign was still relevant, so long as many still saw a problem with the enforcement of Section 112.

Even many in the opposition camp _ who are concerned that the amendment could lead to more criticism of the highest institution _ are of the view that enforcement of this law has been flawed and that it is vulnerable to political misuse. They believe that all security agencies concerned _ such as the police, armed forces, courts, the Department of Special Investigation and the National Security Council _ should have a serious sit down together and make clear how this law should be properly enforced.


Nattaya Chetchotiros is the Assistant News Editor, Bangkok Post.

Nattaya Chetchotiros

Assistant News Editor

Nattaya Chetchotiros is Assistant News Editor, Bangkok Post.

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