Comments on: What does lese-majeste mean?

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 01:10:00 +0000

In reply to fouzia. Happy to do it!

By: fouzia

fouzia — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 23:48:00 +0000

I read newspaper regularly, as such I am familiar with the phrases like Nixon, Watergate and Dog Wagging etc. Now, I thanked myself for registering my name with your blog. I just finished reading the story “Wag the Dog” here. Entire description with all political events have been included. Such a good addition! Now, I have followed closely 2008 and 2012 Democratic and Republican primaries with all ups and downs. Wag the Dog story revealed to me a lot of interesting stories/events/information specially for GOP (now). Thanks for choosing the critical words with, related stories and your capacity to enclose those valuable pieces here. A great work. I wish to learn from you, how you collect those and upload here for readers/members like us. Thank you again.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:44:00 +0000

In reply to Emilio Esteban. I didn't know lese-majeste could be treated as a LAW. How horrifying! Thanks for letting me know.

By: Emilio Esteban

Emilio Esteban — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:07:00 +0000

The cruelest lese majeste law currently being enforced is in Thailand, where the monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is regarded by royalist extremists as a “living God”.
The punishment for criticising the Thai king is 15 years´ prison. There are at present many Thais in prison on false LM charges including: Da Torpedo (15 years) Somyot Prueksakasemsuk (11 years) Surachai Sae Dan and Thantawut.
Thailand has no lese majeste “law” as such, but there are LM clauses in the criminal code (article 112) and special sections in the military introduced constitution, which force Thai people to “worship” and “refere” king Bhumibol by law or face harsh legal penalties.
Absolutely anyone can accuse anyone else of lese majeste in Thailand. Bail is rarely granted to those accused of this “crime” because criticising the monarch is regarded as a “national security” offence.
The current Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, came to power on the back of a promise that she would set up a committee to review lese majeste law, and a firm promise she would respect human rights in Thailand.
So far, nothing has changed and the arrests continue.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:52:00 +0000

In reply to Val. It's disappointing when YEARS of high school French don't pay off, isn't it?!

By: Val

Val — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:41:00 +0000

Yes, it is true, that even if you know French, it doesn’t help that much with the meaning.