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Friday, March 29, 2024

Moviegoers show quiet resistance to monarchy is growing in Thailand

In a sign of the sensitivity, Pheu Thai later clarified that it wouldn’t spearhead the amendment, but would facilitate the discussions in parliament. Since mid-2020 at least 100 people were charged under the law, with the majority of cases stemming from online political comments and participation in the protests.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, a former army chief who rose up through the Queen’s Guards and led a 2014 coup, has sought to discourage protests while avoiding a violent crackdown that could inflame tensions further. Deputy Premier Wissanu Krea-Ngam said last week that political parties can propose amendments to lese majeste like any other statute in the criminal code, but he noted the “sensitivity” of debating the law. The royal office didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

“This is an important issue for national security,” Prayuth told…

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