Lese Majeste

[khontai]

By Wasit Dejakunchorn

I try to be patient not to give any comments on articles in some foreign newspapers defaming His Majesty, trying to think that the writer, though being a professor of a famous university and has studied Thai historical, social and political background, may not have a profound knowledge to understand the feeling of the Thai people whose ancestors have lived and died in Thailand for generations. Those ancestors had their lives under the royal protection for centuries.

I nevertheless cannot stop thinking that, though there has been an increasing number of Thai people who can read and write English these days, and some even have their degrees from abroad (though still using English incorrectly), these people instead turn to believe the textbooks or articles about Thailand written by western academicians who do not really know about Thailand. I think that the moron disease from the west has spread to Thailand, after hearing some western-studied Thais speak of the “sky” by claiming that the foreign media has the insight knowledge of what happened in Thailand, and think that it’s time for me to give some comments on this issue.

This is by no means related to the case of a rich Thai hiring western writer to write something for some silly readers.

In fact there is no need to go to study abroad to understand the role of His Majesty. Thai people who grow in Thailand, no matter how low education they may have, should know that His Majesty does not only devote himself to the Thai people and the country throughout his over 60-year reign, but he also does it with patience and sacrifice uncomparable to any other heads of states in the world. Though having a chance to serve him for less than 12 years, I have been continuously following his activities, which have been somewhat limited in recent years because of need for any research or survey. The feelings of the Thai people shown on their faces at their gatherings throughout the country on the occasion of the 60th year of the accession to the throne of his Majesty on 9 June 2006 revealed their gratefulness and loyalty to His Majesty.

As for the defamation of His Majesty by both foreign and Thai media, nothing can describe the felling of His Majesty better than his speech to those who gathered to bless him on his birthday at Dusidalai Hall, Chitrlada Palace on 4 December 2005.

On that day Police Lieutenant Colonel Thaksin Shinawatra, the then Prime Minister, made the blessing on behalf of the gathering which included me.

In part of the speech His Majesty said “…in fact (I) must also be criticized and is not afraid of that, so that (I) will know..”

On the criticism of His Majesty which is considered a “violation” of the king, he said “…this can be done. But if one makes wrong criticism, he will be mobbed by the people. So it depends on how the criticism is made. It will be OK if it’s right, but not good if wrong. If one says the criticism is prohibited by the constitution, the king will be in a difficult position.”

As for the arrest and prosecution on the charge on lese Majeste, he said “…lawyers prefer arrests and prosecution, and they tell the Prime Minister to do so, but I would tell the Prime Minister not to use the punishment. It’s not good. It’s not the Prime Minister, but the king, who will suffer. If they scold the Prime Minister, the king does not mind, because It’s the Prime Minister’s affair. But if they scold the king, the Prime Minister suffers, because he is the one who must act. So It’s rather complicated..”

Part of the speech concerns with foreigners. He said “…there are cases of foreigners violating the king, and the Thai king is mocked of being inviolable, making him tarnished in the end.” Another part was “…foreign countries said the Thai king cannot be criticized. If you do, you will be jailed, and some have already been imprisoned. That bothered the king, at least he is blamed, or called jerky. Just a slight criticism of him can lead to imprisonment, even though he says nothing about that. The past kings, including King Rama VI, never punished or imprisoned those who were charged with rebellion. This reign also does the same – no imprisonment, no prosecution, and release of those who are in jail.”

Some westerners may be able to read, but not understand, the selected speech, for, despite their degrees, they do not have a profound knowledge on the Thainess. His Majesty’s speech and activities throughout his reign which demonstrate his efforts and devotion to the Thai people and the country should be enough to make the Thai people with Thai blood, understanding of the Thainess, consciousness and responsibility (not the Thais who were only born and study in Thailand) aware of His Majesty’s heart and feeling on those who criticize or “violate” him.

If they do not and still believe that western academicians know Thailand and the Thai king well, it may imply that the education they received in Thailand and abroad is not helpful for them who have defected minds. Their relatives should think of a way to cure them.

A thai proverb goes “Don’t take the mad, don’t blame the drunk”, but one should bear in mind that we often see Thais who “takes” the mad.