The ruling contradicts a previous understanding that the country’s harsh lèse majesté law applies only to the present king, queen, crown prince and regent. Those found to have violated the law may receive prison terms of between three and 15 years. “In the past, most history and social science academics exercised self-censorship in how they described the present monarch. The latest ruling would render all future study impossible, whether dealing with the monarchy only in the present or in the past,” said Kullada Kesboonchoo Mead, a political scientist from Chulalongkorn University. The landmark decision by the court in May, but with details made public only on 8 November, came during the case of a man who criticised slavery during the regime of King Rama IV – also known as King Mongkut – who reigned from 1851-68. During a radio broadcast in 2005 the defendant, whose full name has been withheld by the court, expressed the opinion that people should live in freedom unlike society in the past – slavery was abolished in 1905 under King Rama V. But this view was judged by the court to be defaming the monarchy. Article written by Sulak Lamubol.
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 15:42:19 +0000
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