It's your government, so make it listen

Published: 24 Jan 2013 at 09.31
Online news: Opinion

Here we go again, section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese majeste law. Another citizen, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, editor of Voice of Taksin, was found guilty on two counts on Wednesday and sent to prison for 11 years.

Immediately, some red-shirts organised protests, even if small ones. Immediately, human rights groups and the various non-Thai bodies, committees and agencies clicked send on their press releases, condemning the judgement.

Immediately, newspaper writers penned their thoughts on the subject, tip-toeing ever so gently -- for no one would want to share a cell with Somyot. Who, me? No way.

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JusMe
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Discussion 24 : 25 Jan 2013 at 12.2724
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Slightly off topic, but not completely:

Where is this opinion column in the hard copy of the Bangkok Post? I can always find Khun Voranai's midweek column online, but where is it in the hard copy?

His Sunday opinion column is always opposite the editorial, but what about the midweek column?
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facts_only
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Discussion 23 : 25 Jan 2013 at 10.1523
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"So instead of venting at the court, why not actually change the law?" - above article

"Somyot was arrested five days after launching a campaign to collect 10,000 signatures calling for the amendment of article 112. On May 29, 2012, the Camping Committee for the Amendment of Article 112 submitted a proposed amendment along with 30,383 signatures to the parliament. However, in November 2012, Parliament Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranond dismissed the proposed amendment, saying that the constitution prohibits any law reform related to the institution of the monarchy." - Human Rights Watch, Jan 23, 2013
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dharma
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Discussion 22 : 24 Jan 2013 at 23.5922
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It's true; the govt would be crucified for any backpedaling (coup anyone?) - its the same issue that PAD used to disrupt; and the army used to grab power in 2006. Its a sad situation; the Democrat Party has veered so far from its principles to appease the far-right that PT etc have been happily dragged to the right on this issue as well. Kudos to BP for initiating debate - but for context, consider that this paper wrote a scathing anti-coup/anti-military editorial on 14 Feb 2007 - we haven't seen that for a while. The govt aren't the only ones at fault - the media are also guilty of abandoning principles for short-term gain. Et tu Voranai?
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Kobayashi8
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Discussion 21 : 24 Jan 2013 at 23.4421
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Don't know how this issue was seen in the past, but LM "persecutions" seem to be about politics today. It's like anyone, no matter how high or low, can be imprisoned if someone "important" makes a LM claim. Defaming people without public evidence is the lowest election tactic. What if some big corporation made that claim about a rival company, or a nobody Thai accused another nobody, due to adultery. Thai politics is all teenage gossip, with guns, big money and real hardship for the citizens. Don't turn laws with good intentions into childish insults with life changing consequences. Governments should be led by adults. Sticks and stones......
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howell
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Discussion 20 : 24 Jan 2013 at 22.4220
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@ fictitious facts only. 'The obstacles are three-fold: First, tanks in the streets; second, protesters in the streets; third, Constitution Court judges on the bench." - Voranai Vanijaka, Dec 9, 2012.

What was the context ? Could it be a 'sound bite' you have used to twist facts...as always ?
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facts_only
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Discussion 19 : 24 Jan 2013 at 22.2719
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"So instead of venting at the court, why not actually change the law?" - Voranai Vanijaka, today

"Since the Pheu Thai Party's general election victory on July 3, 2011, one of the group's top mandates, if not the top mandate, has been to amend Section 291 of the constitution to make way for the establishment of a drafting assembly to rewrite the 2007 charter...The obstacles are three-fold: First, tanks in the streets; second, protesters in the streets; third, Constitution Court judges on the bench." - Voranai Vanijaka, Dec 9, 2012
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amazed
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Discussion 18 : 24 Jan 2013 at 22.0518
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Throughout history, various governments have created laws that would punish and ostracize anyone who would even bring up various subjects even remotely associated with the rights and image of that government. Those governments are now viewed by most of the world in a most negative light. I cannot understand why anyone would want to be seen as anything remotely close to those entities.
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rva
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Discussion 17 : 24 Jan 2013 at 22.0217
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D14: That makes no sense at all. Which groups of Thais told you that they "wish to excersise their right NOT to know"? And if Thais wished to excersise this "right" that you state, then the lese majeste law wouldn't be such a contentious debate, now would it? This article wasn't written by a farang, you know.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 16 : 24 Jan 2013 at 21.5816
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A year ago the Bangkok Post would not even have allowed comment on this topic, and might have pressured Voranai to self edit, so we are moving along slowly. Puea Thai are hypocritical not to do something about it, but they are politicians and survival is paramount. They well know it needs fixing but that would make them unpopular.
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augratin
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Discussion 15 : 24 Jan 2013 at 21.4415
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That car is absolutely HIDEOUS. An utterly disgusting shade of Pepto-Bismol pink (for those who are unfamiliar with the reference, Pepto-Bismol is a stomach sickness remedy in the USA, famous for its hot pink color and strong petro-chemical peppermint flavor).

Yuck.
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It's your government, so make it listen | Bangkok Post: opinion