Speaking in Singapore, former Foreign Minister, diplomat, royal advisor and scholar, Tej Bunnag has said that the lese majeste laws cause Thailand a lot of problems. The Straits Times reports:
Dr Tej Bunnag … defended the need for legislation protecting the royal family, and noted that under the law, the police and courts had to act on any accusation of lese majeste. “There are always lese majeste cases before the Thai courts. It takes up a lot of people’s time,” he said. “It causes Thailand a lot of problems, we are fully aware of this.” The frank acknowledgement by a veteran diplomat who has headed Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and served briefly as foreign minister last year, came at a public lecture at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies yesterday. … Dr Tej replied that there were ‘moves’ to amend the laws but he did not elaborate. But he also pointed out that Thailand’s lese majeste laws were not unique. Countries like Singapore, he noted, had laws protecting people from slander. “Certain institutions in certain countries are very sensitive,” he said. “You cannot compare the members of the royal family of the United Kingdom with members of the royal family in Thailand.”
Tej was visiting Singpore to give a presentation demonstrating that frank and fearless discussion of the “institution” really is possible:
Topic: The King of Thailand and Development
Speaker: Dr Tej BunnagHis Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the ninth King of the Chakri Dynasty, which began in 1782. He ascended the throne on 9th June 1946 and he has been serving his people since. He is the first Thai monarch to have visited every region of the country. Starting in 1952, His Majesty, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, visited the least developed areas in different parts of Thailand to see for themselves how their people lived. His Majesty’s desire to visit the people in all places, regardless of terrain or personal inconvenience, was not just to follow the royal tradition or for his own pleasure but to learn directly of their plights and needs, so that he may utilize resources available to improve their living condition. Known as the Developer King, he is dedicated to relieving the people’s hardship, raising their living standard and enhancing their quality of life.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Ralph Kramden // Jan 28, 2009 at 10:50 pm
The only moves so far known to be being made are to make the law even stronger and more draconian. So what’s he on about? Notice that Dej says “amend” not abolish.
2 khon ngai ngai // Feb 1, 2009 at 2:48 am
One would have to be extremely credulous to believe that Tej’s comments are indicative “that frank and fearless discussion of the “institution” really is possible”. Consider the blurb evokes the hackneyed role of the “developer king” and his dogged sacrifices to meet his subjects all over the country so that they may enhance their quality of life. Well, nothing new to that.
Let us be very clear that the report shows Tej is a staunch defender of the need for legislation protecting the royal family, but the subject of contention is in the accusation of lese majeste. Tej is not showing the way!
It would have been good if the full transcript of the public lecture were available so that we can examine if there is anything more than the legalistic acrobatics to signal that Thailand is going the more progressive route. A zebra doesn’t change stripes nor a leopard changes spots. An informed observer will recognize this for what it is – a confusing attempt to “win hearts and minds” for the monarchy after it was criticized for supporting the PAD demonstrators (see Jan 29, 2009 Economist); perhaps still fresh in people’s memories.
Ralph Kramden’s reminder that Tej’s point is about “amend” not abolish is key.
I wonder what Tej’s explanation is for saying that “You cannot compare the members of the royal family of the United Kingdom with members of the royal family in Thailand.” Are the disparate status, inherent goodness, lifelong dedication, and selflessness (oh, and btw, the wealth) of these two royal families partly explained by the differences in lese majeste laws of the two countries? If indeed there is a correlation, what happens if we change these lese majeste laws in Thailand? Who gains, who loses?
One sparrow does not a summer make. To parapharase a senior offical quoted in The Economist article “A right royal mess” Dec 4, 2008, Long live the King, for without him we will perish. I think Tej realizes this in his heart of hearts.
3 Aung Kyaw-Nyein // Feb 3, 2009 at 6:33 am
I wonder if Dr Bunnag by any chance is related a friend with whom I went to school at Washington U in St Louis in 1986. His name is “Kai” a.k.a. Danuj Bunnag. I would like to resume contact with him if possible. I work for the U.S. State Dept and based in Wash DC.
Thanks,
AK
4 Hla Oo // Feb 7, 2009 at 9:40 am
U Aung Kyaw-Nyein,
Are you one of those famous sons of late U Kyaw Nyein? What I remember is two of them were from RIT and jailed for a long time for their leading involvement in 1975 U Thant Uprising. If you are one I would like to know more about you as I had met both of them during the uprising.
Hla Oo
5 Charles F. // Feb 11, 2009 at 9:18 am
Rosslyn is a world away from Rangoon.
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