Lèse-majesté madness: Thailand
A military court will today hear testimony in a case involving a man who claims to have been in telepathic contact with the late King Bhumibhol. He is accused of making false claims about the monarchy’s property. If found guilty, he will face up to 15 years in jail. In its hunt for perceived critics of the monarchy, the junta has locked up more than 100 people, including a 14-year-old boy. Recent sentences for insulting a royal have exceeded the standard for murder. Police warn that punishment now looms for any who view “anti-monarchy” content online. Since Bhumibhol’s death last October, public debate on Thailand’s political future and the royalty has been even more muzzled by lèse-majesté and other laws than previously. The junta is building a quasi-theocratic order in which it and the monarchy monopolise sacred authority, political leadership and military power. An end to autocratic rule and the idolisation of the king appears far off.
Source: The Economist Espresso
May 25th 2017
