Opposition to lese majeste grows
In The Nation, it it reported that 100 “writers have joined a growing chorus in the call to amend the lese majeste law and stop the use of the law as a ‘political tool’ to suppress political opponents and freedom of political expression.”
Young and well-known young writers “urged other writers, irrespective of their political ideology, to defend freedom of expression as a fundamental aspect of a free society.”
They called on the “army to stop using the monarchy institution as an excuse to crush its opponents.” PPT understands the politics of such a statement, but exonerating the monarchy from the political repression flies in the face of recent Thai history.
The article continues: “The latest move highlights the fact that as more and more people are being incarcerated under the lese majeste law, opponents of the law are no longer limited to leftists, republicans or those sympathetic to red shirts. Now, mainstream writers are joining the fray.”
The report also raises the issue of “lack of transparency regarding the number of people incarcerated under the law, with estimates that could top one hundred.”
Based on estimates seen in various studies, PPT reckons the figure is higher than this; perhaps 300.
Just this past week, Red Power magazine editor Somyos Prueksakasemsuk was again refused bail, “making it more likely now that he will spend months if not more, at Bangkok Remand Prison while fighting lese majeste charges against him.”
Great news, its true, that young writers see this law as repressive, but why not get rid of the horrid law and let the royals use the laws that others use?
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