Is A Rare Moment When Monarchy Is Criticized In Thailand

Raja Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn (Sumber: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Speakers at Thailand's anti-government protests demanding reforms to the monarchy of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Publicly, he called for the power of the kingdom to be limited.

This is actually a rare event. In Thailand, defaming the monarchy is punishable by up to 15 years in prison under the Lese Majeste law.

However, during the demonstration the police did not stop the six speakers who criticized the monarchy. However, the police said that any suspected violations would be investigated.

Another interesting part of the demonstration was that two hundreds of protesters were dressed as the fictional wizard Harry Potter and other characters. They call this a reference to eliminating injustice under the monarchy.

A lawyer named Anon Nampa accused the palace of taking a power that destroys democracy. In addition, the palace did not act in the face of attacks on opponents of Prime Minister (PM) Prayuth Chan-ocha's government who was also a former junta leader.

King control

After Maha Vajiralongkorn took the throne in 2016, the palace needed a new constitutional revision that would give him greater emergency powers. Since then the king has taken personal control of several tens of billions of dollars worth of army units and palace assets.

Meanwhile, some Thai activists have complained of violence by the authorities. They said at least nine opposition figures living abroad had disappeared. Two activists were later found dead.

"Talking about this is not an act to overthrow the monarchy, but to allow the monarchy to do things to Thai society in the right and legitimate way under a democratic and constitutional monarchy," said Anon.

Two groups of students then read out demands that began with "canceling and reforming laws that expand the power of the king and which can affect a democracy where the king is head of state."

Deputy spokesman for the government, Ratchada Thanadirek, said all decisions regarding the punishment of the monarchist critics were in the hands of the police. This includes whether they will take action against the protesters.

"The government wants the youth who are protesting to obey the law, so that they can continue to exercise their right to make demands and the country can remain peaceful," he said.

Students from Mahanakorn and Kaset Universities also asked the authorities to listen to the protesters. They asked that the reform of the 'lese majeste' law which prohibits criticism of the monarchy be carried out immediately.

Protesters staged protests for PM Prayuth's resignation and changed the constitution every day. While some placards have made veiled criticism of the monarchy and protests for the monarchy this is the first time it has been conducted publicly.

"We are not yet able to determine what violations have been committed. Any offense under any law will be processed for investigators," said Surapong Thammapitak, a police representative.

Prayuth said in a speech that there had not been any prosecution under the "lese majeste" law recently. This is the king's request. But Prayuth warned against continuing to criticize the monarchy.

Criticism was extremely rare under the throne of the king's father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He was king for 70 years until his reign ended due to his death in 2016.

"Such open criticism of the Thai monarch by non-elites in public in Thailand - with the police standing by - is a first in Thai history," said Paul Chambers, who teaches international affairs at Naresuan University, Thailand.