Love lese majeste or get out

The lese majeste law is like a rotting political carrion being fought over by right-wing royalists. The battle has hotted up as royalists have been frightened by that other death of another “great leader” fawned over by the power hungry and given personal credit for all that is “good.”

Prayuth with his protection

In the Bangkok Post, Army boss and self-proclaimed chief protector of the monarchy has made his feelings abundantly clear: “People should not be calling on the authorities to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the lese majeste law…”. He is wants this draconian law  left as is and unamended in order protect the monarchy, its royalist state and the military’s political position.

In the usual manner of the royalist, authoritarian right wing, he helpfully advises: “Personally, I feel we should not talk about this…. If people think Thai law is unjust or too harsh, they can go live abroad.”  He might be attacking foreigners. However, this bully-boy tactic is a warning to Thais, drawing on old claims of “Thainess.”

He is joined in this right-wing feeding frenzy by the contemptible Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung. He comes up with the usual royalist tripe: “Thailand has prospered because of the main institution. Without the main institution, where would the country be?… Because of His Majesty’s compassion and graciousness in all areas, Thailand has gone from poverty to prosperity, from being an underdeveloped country to a developing country.”

Chalerm

Such nonsense is regularly trotted out by royal posterior polishers who deliberately belittle every other Thai who has worked tirelessly in a  long process of social and economic changes that not person with an ounce of sense could ascribe to a single person or institution. It also pays obeisance to the ruling class of owners and royals who have grown fat on the the fruits of massive environmental destruction and Latin American levels of inequality.

Chalerm says: “Why change Section 112 since it’s good already? Don’t they [people who want Section 112 amended] have jobs to go to?” Another classic royalist and ruling class rant. Has this man not a single original thought?

Chalerm is now off on a crusade to have True Corp,  TOT, CAT Telecom and 3BB block all websites with lese majeste content. In fact, PPT is already blocked by most of these providers and most of those in Thailand who read us have to use Cooloo or other work-arounds.

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