A constitutional right to commit arson

In a recent media interview, hardline red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong, who turned himself in to the DSI last week after spending more than a year on the run from Thai justice, has made a number of statements typical of the man's complete disconnect from reality.

Hilariously, he proclaimed that "I have exercised my constitutional right to demand democracy."

Okay, either the man is confusing the phrases "constitutional right" with "pathological need to create chaos", or he is referring to a number of special Secret Articles of the Thai Constitution that no one else knows about, such as:

Secret Article 1001: Leading armed gangs into Parliament is legal so long as you use sharpened bamboo sticks as weapons.

Secret Article 1002: Threatening a police officer with a gun is not a problem so long as you look dashing in your red outfit (or at least, think you do).

Secret Article 1003: Violently disrupting gatherings of international delegates at seaside hotels is not at all a problem so long as you're a fading ex-crooner who was once able to belt out popular Thai tunes.

Secret Article 1004: Inciting the public to bring 1 million litres of gasoline to the nation's capital in order to commit mass arson is fully sanctioned so long as the amounts are limited to one litre per person."

Who knows, perhaps these articles are genuine in a constitution that exists somewhere in the confines of Arisman's head, but sadly there's usually little hope for justice in Thailand for high-profile VIP criminal suspects no matter how insane or deluded they appear to be - and that would include most red- and yellow-shirt leaders. With Arisman rightfully denied bail upon his return, there is at least a small measure of hope that justice will prevail.

Bangkok Dave

Bangkok