The main opposition Pheu Thai Party has denied it has initiated a contentious amendment to the lese majeste law, an issue made divisive after former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's remarks saying there is no problem with the law.
The party clarified on Wednesday that it was acting merely as a vehicle bringing any amendment of Section 112 of the Criminal Code into parliament for deliberation.
"Pheu Thai is not at the centre of a mass petition nor pushing for a rewrite of Section 112. Rather, we're the middleman liaising with all sides to have the issue discussed in parliament," newly-elected Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said on Wednesday.
His clarification came after Chaikasem Nitisiri, chairman of political strategy and direction, affirmed on Monday Pheu Thai's intention to push proposals to amend Sections 112 and 116 of the Criminal Code in parliament.
They would also call for the release of prisoners of conscience to restore their legal status and the rule of law as demanded by the people.
Section 116 pertains to acts of sedition.
Opponents immediately interpreted Mr Chaikasem's remarks as Pheu Thai endorsing an ongoing campaign by anti-government groups seeking to overhaul Section 112 or have it abolished altogether.
The issue was also picked up on Tuesday by Thaksin on Facebook Live. He insisted Section 112 was "never a problem".
Any trouble was caused by its wrongful enforcement, he said, adding those in the justice system applied the law out of a desire to show loyalty to the monarchy without considering the rule of law.
"The result is they committed abuse of power," Thaksin said.
He accused the government of being politically motivated in enforcing the section, igniting widespread displeasure from protesters. The former premier said that in the past the police force set up a panel to vet lese majeste cases and there were few of them.
Due process of the law was respected, he added.
Now, the lese majeste cases have proliferated as those being prosecuted under the law have vented their anger. Thaksin suggested the government sit down for a talk with the youth-led protesters whose demands regarding Section 112 "can be thrashed out".
He added that historically the law had never been used to intimidate anyone and cautioned against anyone acting out of anger.
After airing his view, Thaksin was lambasted by activists and academics who back a rewrite of the lese majeste law.
Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, a core leader of the June 24 Democracy group and a former convict under the Section 112 law, said Thaksin had forgotten about the several high-profile politicians now living in exile after being charged with lese majeste.
The politicians retained close ties to Thaksin but they have now apparently slipped his mind, Mr Somyot said.
Pichit Likhitkitsomboon, a former political science lecturer at Thammasat University, said Thaksin believed the monarchy and the military were tickets to his "smooth return to the country" from self-imposed exile.
Thaksin fled the country before he was convicted by the Supreme Court of helping his former wife, Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, clinch a prime plot of land on Ratchadaphisek Road at a discount in 2003.
The former lecturer added Thaksin may also think that Section 112 did not contradict the rights and freedom as he was "more interested in issues about bread and butter".
Meanwhile, Dr Cholnan said opposition parties all agreed they did not want the law being used by people in power to persecute people who hold different opinions on this issue.