Article 112: Thailand's lèse majesté law
Panel discussion

7pm, Wednesday November 20, 2013

(Please see pricing and reservation procedure below)

 

Article 112 of the Criminal Code which states "whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be punished with imprisonment of three to fifteen years" has become the third rail of Thai politics. 

Once a rarity in the Thai court system, the number of cases has skyrocketed since 2006. Foreigners who fall afoul of the law are generally pardoned and/or deported, but cases against Thais have raised concerns that the lese majeste law is being used to stifle free speech and political expression.

Neither side of the Thai political divide wants to be seen as disloyal to the monarchy. Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva promised to form a committee to look into misuse of the law, which led nowhere, while the Yingluck administration says it won't seek to alter the existing law in any way, much to the ire of many redshirt backers who have been accused and sometimes imprisoned under the law for their political activities. 

Meanwhile activists insist that Article 112 is an airtight way to muzzle political opponents. There is the possibility of appeal if one is convicted, but so far none have succeeded. Moreover, the proceedings take place behind closed doors and the media cannot repeat the allegations -- that is also considered a violation of Article 112. The Thai media's self censorship is perhaps understandable, but the foreign press based in the Kingdom has been under fire for doing the same thing with more critical coverage coming only from those safely beyond Thailand's borders. Despite this, the law remains unchanged and the establishment who wants to safeguard it remains unruffled.

Is modifying or even clarifying Article 112 a possibility in the current Thai political climate or does this law, which draws critical attention to Thailand's level of freedom of expression, have an enshrined place in Thai jurisprudence?


Join us for an important discussion on Thailand's most controversial law.


Speakers include:

Pravit Rojanaphruk -- senior journalist at The Nation. Seven of Mr Pravit's articles for prachatai. com were investigated for alleged infringements of the lèse majesté law in accordance and the Computer Crimes Act.

Kraisak Choonhavan -- a former MP and former Chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee. He is also a nationally known human rights advocate.

Sunai Phasuk -- senior researcher on Thailand in Human Rights Watch's Asia division

Sukanya Prueksakasemsuk -- wife of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, magazine editor, who has been imprisoned with an 11 year sentence under article 112 of Thailand and founder of the The 112 Family Network, for those whose relatives have been jailed under article 112 since July 2012.