Lese majeste debate

In the context of recent high-profile lese majeste cases, there was considerable discussion about the use of the law in Thailand. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told a gathering of Asian country news editors that he does not believe that Thailand’s lese majeste law violates freedom of expression or is responsible for a decline in media freedom. He asserted that problems in the recent past are because there have been attempts to topple the monarchy in a political context, and the government will try to address problems by clarifying who will enforce the law.
On the same day, Crime Suppression Division police raided the office of political website Prachathai, taking webmaster (also described as a founder of the website) Cheeranuch Premchaiphorn into custody and accusing her of violating the Computer Act and lese majeste laws. Cheeranuch was later released on bail. Prachathai website editor Chuwat Lertkitisuk complained that this is an obvious act of media intimidation to stifle freedom of expression, and said that lese majeste accusation may have been prompted by certain messages posted on Prachathai’s web board.
from www.kpi.ac.th