re: "Minority govt perils" (BP, Editorial, May 8, 2023) & "Don't mess with lese majeste law: Prayut" (BP, May 8)
Dear editor,
It is interesting that the Bangkok Post concludes their timely editorial on the threat of legal manoeuvres giving rise to a minority government with the sentence: "It is incumbent upon us to ensure the formation of any government aligns with the fundamental tenets of democracy and voters' will," on the very day that there is another article on the Thai law that directly contradicts foundational democratic principle: "Don't mess with lese majeste law: Prayut" (Bangkok Post, May 8).
In the latter, Royal Thai Army General Prime Minister (caretaker) Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha is quoted as warning other parties "not to meddle with it too much," referring to Thailand's too well known lèse majesté law, popularly known as section 112 of the criminal code. The only justification that the PM (caretaker) gives is that "the law is the law." This is of course perfectly true: the law is indeed the law. It is also unjust and contradicts basic democratic principle.
Overlooking the obvious truth that committing or being complicit in a coup against the nation shows nothing but contempt for the law by that very act of overthrowing the supreme law of the land, the PM and his cheering fans, clearly a small minority of Thais as polls consistently show, can rest assured that should that law be amended to bring it into line with justice and foundational democratic principle, it will continue to be the law, only a more just law, one befitting a democratic nation that respects basic human rights.
That sort of reforming amendment (no major party is suggesting abolition) would not "destroy the foundation" of the nation as the caretaker PM suggests. On the contrary, it would strengthen the foundation, making it more resilient and able to support a 21st century nation that continues to appropriately respect its traditional institutions. The recent example of the coronation of my own nation's new king, Charles III, amply attests to the reality that a central symbolic role for traditional monarchies can fit perfectly comfortably in a liberal democracy whose laws respect "the fundamental tenets of democracy and voters' will," including the rights of each and every citizen to peacefully speak their mind.
Felix Qui
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The above letter to the editor is the text as submitted by Felix Qui to the Bangkok Post.
The text as edited was published in PostBag on May 9, 2023, under the title "Monarchies today" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2566251/a-taste-of-duty
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