NRLC proposes setting up of panel to screen lese majeste cases

The Independent National Rule of Law Commission (NRLC) has proposed that the Royal Thai Police set up a special panel to screen lesemajeste cases to prevent abuse of the lesemajeste law as a political tool.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said the NRLC gave a report on the proposal to the government at a meeting following a threemonth study undertaken by the commission. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung.

Pracha said the NRLC proposed that the Royal Thai Police should set up a committee of academics and representatives of government agencies to screen cases of violations of Article 112 of the Criminal Code.

The NRLC felt that screening by the panel would prevent abuse of the Article 112 as a political tool.

The NRLC also proposed that concerned government agencies find a way to allow suspects in lesemajeste cases to be freed temporarily pending court trials.

Pracha said the meeting agreed to have the Council of State study the proposal of the NRLC in relation to the establishment of the screening committee.

The meeting also assigned the Royal Thai Police to work out with the Department of Special Investigation on how to allow the lesemajeste suspects to be freed on bail.

Pracha added that the NRLC also proposed that the Royal Thai Police change its traffic regulations by collecting traffic fines at the same rate of Bt100 in every case.