PM's aide: 'lese majeste untouchable'Anti-government demonstrators gather in front of the United Nations Conference Centre on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok on Dec 10, 2020, calling for the repeal of Section 112 of the Criminal Code. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)It is impossible to repeal Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law, both in technicality and spirit, and doing so runs counter to the constitution, said Thipanan Sirichana, the former deputy spokeswoman of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party. Abolishing the lese majeste law intended to provide legal protection to the monarch from insults and dishonour would, in essence, contravene the constitution, she said. Section 112, which is reserved for the head of state and categorised as a national security law, works differently from the defamation law which applies to citizens. She said it was puzzling that Progressive Movement secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, who is a legal expert, has shown a lack of understanding of the law.
