Use of the lese majeste law

Whilst idly contemplating the non-victory that the PAD have won, and the chaos that is likely to return next week, a somewhat mischevious though crossed my mind. Maybe those better versed in Thai law can comment.

Under the Thai constitution, the King must approve all appointments of Prime Ministers and Cabinet Ministers. Asuming that he did not have a gun held to his head when he approved Samak and Somchai, is there a case to answer under the lese majeste law for those who try to depose them - in other words are the yellow shirts guilty of going against the monarch's wishes, and does this count for anything?

An interesting thought, but if you read the article in yesterday's LATimes it makes a pretty clear statementas to why the redshirts may not be buying the same old line about all that is Royal. If the times were published in Thailand...there would no doubt be lese majeste charges, arrest, and demands for the LATimes head screaming from the Thai media.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 4353.story (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-king2-2008dec02,0,4554353.story)

A direct quote from the LATimes.

"He has spent recent days holed up in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

The king may not be able to work the political magic he has in past crises because this time the palace's neutrality is in question.

In October, Queen Sirikit presided over the funeral of a 28-year-old PAD supporter who was killed when a tear-gas canister struck her head as police tried to break up a demonstration outside parliament.

The anti-government alliance interpreted the queen's appearance at the funeral, along with her daughter Princess Chulabhorn, as silent approval from the palace for its months-long effort to topple the government.

The prime minister's backers also suspect that the king may not be above politics.

They had insisted that Somchai's elected government had to remain in power to defend democracy from what they see as a mob that is holding the country's main airports hostage."

It has also appeared in print here in the US that ....... has been the money behind PAD, but got very nervious as thing spun out of control.

The king may not be able to work the political magic he has in past crises because this time the palace's neutrality is in question.This whole thing the Thais have about their king is just a personality cult isn't it? My guess is that the palace is desperate to get done with Thaksin once and for all before that event that we're all not allowed to discuss happens.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 7680.story (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-thailand3-2008dec03,0,3397680.story)

From Today's LA Times: read the entire article.


"Many here believe Sondhi's well-funded operation is secretly supported by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a revered figure in Thai society. Sondhi's protesters wear yellow as a symbol of their royalist leanings."

[Dboy]

"Many here believe Sondhi's well-funded operation is secretly supported by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a revered figure in Thai society. Sondhi's protesters wear yellow as a symbol of their royalist leanings."

Combine this quote with the posting above it and you get to the heart of the matter.

dboy