An estranged son of Thailand’s king who has spent almost all his adult life away from his homeland has unexpectedly gone public with his belief that open discussions about the country's monarchy should be allowed, in a rejection of a harsh royal anti-defamation law.
Supporters of the law say the monarchy is the bedrock of Thai identity and should be untouchable.
Vacharaesorn, 42, who had long been out of the public eye, drew major attention in August when he made a brief surprise return to Thailand, where he visited a charity organization and several Buddhist temples to participate in prayers and offerings. Before departing, he told reporters that he wishes Thailand will be “a country full of hope” and that Thai people will “respect one another, listen to one another, no matter who we are.
Royalists’ unyielding objections to reform of the monarchy were highlighted after Thailand’s May’s elections, in which the progressive Move Forward Party won the most seats but was denied power by Parliament. Conservative members of the military-installed Senate voted jointly with the House to block party leader Pita Limjaroenrat from becoming prime minister, citing the party’s call for a mild reform of the lese majeste law.
The court said the posts were made long before Pannika Wanich became a member of Parliament, but her failure to delete or modify them later showed “disrespect to the monarchy, which must be protected under the constitution.”
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