Legal threats need rethinkGovernment supporters may have cheered loudly when Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha declared he would apply "all laws and articles" against pro-reform demonstrators. Those laws include Section 112 of the criminal code, also known as the lese majeste law, which punishes people who defame or insult the King, Queen, heir apparent, or the regent. At worst, the PM's attempt to bring the lese majeste law into the political conflict could spin it in a more dangerous direction, if not out of control altogether. The lese majeste law has been viewed as "problematic" in the eyes of law experts and human rights groups both here and internationally. A stricter application of the law, especially a controversial one like lese majeste, is not the solution.

Source: Bangkok Post November 24, 2020 23:15 UTC