Politics vs. the crown

In February, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights reported that almost 2,000 people, mostly youngsters, face charges for exercising their rights to speech and assembly. Many of these face lese majeste charges.

But the current prime minister and his party seem to dismiss the notion that “politics” does not involve the monarchy.

Responding to commentary by his boss, Thaksin Shinawatra – characterized as “Pheu Thai’s spiritual leader” – Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stated that he “believes all political fugitives, including former premier Yingluck Shinawatra, are welcome to return to Thailand, provided they undergo the judicial process.”

But, as seen with Thaksin’s own return, there are gaping double standards in the “judicial process.” Clearly, in his case, he was given a dream run, facilitated by the palace deal and the Puea Thai-led coalition.

Obviously, the “political fugitives” that Thaksin and Srettha are intent on returning are their political allies.

Implicitly Srettha is rejecting amnesty and obviously running and hiding from anything to do with lese majeste. Kids charged under Article 112 are being left to a “judicial system” that is highly politicized and determined to punish them. “Law” hardly matters.