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Published on October 9, 2007

A proposed amendment to the lese majeste law could provide more protection for the president of the Privy Council and impose stiffer penalties on violators.

In a copy of the draft law obtained by The Nation yesterday, Article 112/2 would be added to include offences against the Privy Council president and the representatives appointed to His Majesty the King and his children.

Punishment for such crimes could also be increased to up to five years in jail and a Bt100,000 fine, according to the draft amendment prepared by a National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members.

NLA chairman Meechai Ruchuphan said it was unclear if the government would propose its own version of the amendment.

Supinya Klangnarong, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Media Reform, said she was "shocked" to find that former Thai Journalists Association chairman Pattara Khampitak and media professional Kamnoon Sittisaman were among the NLA members who proposed the amendment, as well as former members and supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy.

"I was shocked and distressed after reading the draft. It's worrying as the laws might be used as a political tool. It will certainly hurt people's freedom [of expression] and rights. It's not proper either that the NLA should pass such laws as this is a caretaker [Parliament]," she said.

The amendment to the Criminal Law and Criminal Penal Code is scheduled to be considered by the NLA tomorrow.

It was proposed by Porn-petch Wichitcholchai and supported by more than 50 NLA members, including Vice-Admiral Pajun Tamprateep, who is a close aide of Privy Council President Prem Tinsu-lanonda.

Among the other NLA

members who supported the amendment were Sompot Kanchanaporn, Wallop Tang-kananurak, Somsak Kwang-sopa, Prapa Haetrakool, Gen Oud Buengbon, Gen Sonthat Attanant, Khunying Suchada Kiranandana, Borwornsak Uwanno and Praphan Koonmee.

The amendment draft also proposed expanding Article 112 to cover violations against representatives of His Majesty and those of the King's children. Those who violate the law could be jailed for up to seven years and fined up to Bt140,000.

Meechai said the proposed amendment to Article 112 was the result of a study of national problems by a panel he appointed. It was also in line with one of the four reasons behind the military coup against the Thaksin Shinawatra government.

The panel also proposed an amendment to allow police, attorneys and judges to ban the media from criticising or commenting on lese majeste cases. Those who violate the ban would face three years in jail and/or a fine of Bt60,000, the draft said.

The panel was led by Sompot and included 23 members.

Prapasri Osathanon

The Nation