The firebrand monk Phra Buddha Issara missed the irony of his protest at the US embassy on Friday. He led 200 self-described patriots to oppose comments last week by US ambassador Glyn Davies. The ambassador had directly criticised heavy sentences given recently for those convicted of lese majeste. No one, he said, should be imprisoned for peaceful speech.
The monk led the protest on Witthayu Road on Friday afternoon. The crowd was largely good-natured, holding signs in English and Thai. Phra Buddha Issara and friends made the point that the monarchy is a special and revered symbol of all Thais. They felt the ambassador's words were inappropriate, undiplomatic and even meddled with the country's internal affairs. After making their points forcefully, they dispersed.
As was to be expected in such an important and touchy subject, there appeared to be misunderstanding. In his speech last Wednesday at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand, the US ambassador dwelt at length on the US respect and regard for the monarchy. First-hand reports said that "Mr Davies stressed the deep respect and admiration the US held for the monarchy". Then he criticised the lengthy sentences recently handed down on lese majeste convictions.
Mr Davies was hardly the first or the most critical of the law. The United Nations, the European Union and NGOs involved in human rights investigations have previously harshly assailed the heavier sentencing. In several cases in the past two months, lese majeste defendants have been convicted of multiple offences, and have received longer prison sentences than murderers.
Foreign diplomats and friends, just like Thais, realise the necessity of a lese majeste law. The US ambassador was both narrow and clear in his speech. He said the US government is "concerned by the lengthy and unprecedented prison sentences handed down by Thai military courts against civilians for violating the lese majeste law".
Just as Mr Davies did not criticise Section 112 of the Criminal Code, Phra Buddha Issara and his small band of nationalists did not address what the ambassador actually said.
Since the military coup of May 22, 2014 junta chief and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has drastically increased attention on lese majeste violations. Acting in his role as chief law enforcement officer, Gen Prayut has ordered stronger measures, and has employed military courts. Many arrests have been made secretly; most court proceedings have been confidential.
Phra Buddha Issara's group told bystanders that "all Thais are ready to defend the monarchy with their lives". Since reverence for the monarchy is strong, which renders any criticisms inconsequential, Mr Davies, like many others within and outside of Thailand, wondered logically why authorities resort to such harsh punishment.
This is doubly so since His Majesty the King has said that such punishment actually ends up hurting him and the monarchy.
But the issue is broader than that. Phra Buddha Issara's demonstration on Friday was clearly illegal. It violated the new law on public assembly and, before that, clearly breached the regime's injunction against political gatherings of more than five people.
It is a good sign -- as the ambassador remarked -- that the group was not detained for stating its position in a peaceful manner.
It would greatly boost the country's image if the military leaders reconsidered harsh restriction of free speech. There may well be a need for special laws in these special days of reform. But at the same time, the military regime needs to hasten reform and help reconciliation by listening to alternative views rather than silencing them.