The Bangkok Post reports that a court has approved the issue of a warrant for the arrest 63-year-old New Zealand citizen Thitinant Kaewchantranont. As far as PPT can tell, this is the first lese majeste case that is wholly within the jurisdiction of the Puea Thai government. We also note very limited interest on the part of the international media but see here.
A police panel has reportedly been established to handle the case:
The committee is headed by Pol Maj-Gen Prinya Chansuriya, a deputy metropolitan police chief. Pol Col Charoen Srisasalak, metropolitan police division 2 deputy chief, and investigators from Thung Song Hong police station are also on the panel.
Since 14 July, Thitinant has been detained at the Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute in Bangkok, where she is being assessed for “mental illness.” She is being carefully guarded by police.
What a farce the lese majeste law and its implementation are. We continue to wonder about the sanity of the collective Thai state as it enforces feudal and authoritarian rules.
