MP faces lese majeste claim over ‘defamatory’ speech

A Move Forward Party (MFP) executive faces a lese majeste allegation over his March 5 campaign speech in Phitsanulok, where he is standing for election.

Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Constitution, filed a complaint with the Election Commission on Monday and sought an investigation into a pre-election speech by Padipat Santipada, an MFP MP for Phitsanulok’s Constituency 1.

At the campaign rally on March 5, Mr Padipat, also an MFP executive, told supporters some royally initiated projects were riddled with graft, according to Mr Srisuwan.

His mention of the graft in the speech was defamatory to the monarchy. It is common knowledge that projects royally initiated by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and His Majesty the King, which number over 4,700, are intended for the well-being of the people, Mr Srisuwan…