Hearts and minds
Re: "Court speaks out on teen held for LM", (BP, May 14).
Thanalop "Yok" Phalanchai has been charged with royal defamation under Section 112 for spray-painting graffiti on the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and illegally using sound amplifiers. Also, her sympathisers spray-painted Samranrat police station and broke doors.
Both sides err. "Thailand's law of lèse-majesté has one very prominent critic: His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great. In 2005 ... King Bhumibol used his annual televised birthday address to convey three concerns: (a) "The King," he said, "is a human being and as such should be subject to criticism, (b) charges against those accused of lèse-majesté should be dropped. Those held in jail for lèse-majesté should be released, and (c) the use of the lèse-majesté law ultimately damages the monarchy." Thus, before charging anybody, public prosecutors should obtain Privy Council approval (quote from Grossman and Faulder, King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work, Editions Didier Millet, 2012).
Yok and her group have the freedom of expression guaranteed by our constitution and backed by HM Rama 9's opinion (above). But they have no right to impinge on the equal rights of all others.
To protest effectively, Yok et al must win the hearts and minds of voters. You don't do that by damaging property, yelling and displaying vulgarities, or impeding innocent passage. For example, the Canadian Broadcasting Company recently broadcast an excellent interview with Princess Anne to mark King Charles' coronation. The new king and queen led a long procession after the ceremony, including past activists who were silent, prominently stationed along the royal route, and very visibly displaying "Not my king" signs. They protested unimpeded, for they were not infringing on the rights of others and were free to make their case to viewers. That's the way to go: both for the authorities and activists.
To get sustainable change, win hearts and minds.