Thai Prince Breaks Barriers: Discusses Country's Strict Royal Insult Law at Lese Majeste Exhibition

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn's second son paid an unexpected visit to a New York exhibition showcasing individuals who have faced prosecution under the country's severe royal defamation laws. This gesture indicates a willingness to engage in open discussions about this sensitive subject. The lese majeste laws in Thailand are known to be among the most rigid globally, with criticizing the King, Queen, or heir apparent potentially resulting in a maximum prison sentence of 15 years per offense, thereby making any discussion surrounding the royal family extremely perilous.

Convictions under Thailand's Criminal Code Article 112 can result in lengthy sentences, and in recent years, numerous individuals have been prosecuted. Thai dissident Pavin Chachavalpongpun, who is an outspoken critic of the Thai monarchy and a royal academic, organized an exhibition called "Faces Of Victims Of 112" at New York's Columbia University in the LeRoy Neiman Gallery. Chachavalpongpun himself is facing charges under lese majeste.

Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, 42, the King's second-oldest son who resides in New York, verified his visit to the exhibition on his official Facebook page on Monday.

"I have deep love and unwavering loyalty towards the monarchy, however, I firmly believe that knowledge surpasses ignorance. Each individual forms their own opinions based on personal experiences," Vacharaesorn expressed.

"Simply disregarding others' opinions does not negate the existence of their viewpoints. Hence, it is beneficial to be aware of and contemplate the reasoning and perspectives presented by different parties."

He further emphasized that "whether or not we agree or disagree is a separate issue, but it is essential to engage in discussions guided by principles."

42-year-old Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, the second-eldest son of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn, is seen praying during a religious ceremony held at Wat Yannawa temple in Bangkok, Thailand on August 10, 2023. The photograph was taken by Athit Perawongmetha and is published under the REUTERS agency.

Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

Visit of King's estranged US-based sons comes at a delicate time for Thailand's monarchy

Vacharaesorn's attendance at the exhibition marks his return to Thailand after an absence of nearly thirty years, which was caused by his family's disconnection from the royal family due to his parents' divorce in 1996. This visit, which received considerable media attention, holds particular importance as the 71-year-old King has not yet designated a successor since assuming the throne in 2016.

Analysts viewed the visit as an opportunity to gauge the prospects of a possible return in the future.

This occurrence coincided with a sensitive period for the monarchy, as there was an increasing demand from the younger Thai population for reforms within the royal institution. Hence, his attendance at the exhibition held a significant and symbolic meaning.

Presence at exhibition has important implications

At the event, Pavin, the organizer, shared pictures on his Facebook page featuring himself engaging in conversation with Vacharaesorn, alongside images depicting 25 Thai individuals who have faced legal action under the lese majeste charge.

"This was an exceptionally civilized approach to discussing an issue that is steeped in barbarism. The progress of society is hindered unless the individuals in positions of authority are willing to broaden their perspectives and lend an ear to address the problem," he wrote.

In an interview with CNN, Pavin emphasized the significance of Vacharaesorn's presence, stating that "the subject matter itself holds immense importance."

"Engaging in a dialogue is preferable to ignoring the problem," he stated. "Running away from this issue is not a viable option."

According to Pavin, an associate professor at Kyoto University's Center for Southeast Asian Studies, this visit holds great importance as it "indicates a certain readiness on the part of Thailand's establishment to progress for the sake of its own survival."

"He mentioned that if he were to acknowledge the significance of this crucial matter from an academic standpoint, it could have significant repercussions for Thai politics," he remarked.

For years, Thailand has been under the control of a close-knit and influential group with strong connections to the military, royalist circles, and business sectors.

King Vajiralongkorn ascended the throne after his father, Bhumibol Adulyadej, passed away in 2016. During Bhumibol's 70-year reign, there were multiple military coups against democratic governments in the name of safeguarding the monarchy against perceived threats. Additionally, critics of the royal family and the military elite often faced frequent lese majeste prosecutions.

Srettha Thavisin, the newly elected 30th Prime Minister of Thailand from the Phue Thai Party, addressing the press at the party's headquarters in Bangkok on August 22, 2023.

Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/Getty Images

Thailand has a new leader but it's not the one most people voted for. Here's why

In his birthday speech in 2005, Bhumibol himself raised concerns about the oppressive atmosphere, stating that considering the King incapable of any mistakes amounts to undermining his humanity. He emphasized that the King is not infallible.

However, despite this, lese majeste prosecutions persisted throughout the final decade of his reign and escalated significantly following the military's seizure of power in a 2014 coup.

By 2020, the Southeast Asian nation witnessed widespread anti-government protests, with the masses calling for democratic, military, and constitutional reforms. Most notably, an unprecedented demand arose for royal reform, aiming to establish the King's accountability to the constitution and advocating for amendments to the law concerning insults towards the royal family.

In the May elections, progressive party Move Forward successfully transformed the protest demands, including lese majeste reforms, into a compelling political campaign that resonated with the Thai public. This led to the party securing the highest number of seats in parliament.

However, despite their success, the party has been marginalized due to their agenda for royal reform. Thailand's new Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin of the populist Pheu Thai party, has made it clear that the coalition government will not address amendments to lese majeste. In forming the coalition government, he has relied on the support of the same military-backed forces that ousted previous democratically elected governments.

A political tool

For years, human rights organizations and free speech campaigners have said lese majeste has been used as a political tool to silence critics of the Thai government.

Lese majeste charges can be brought against anyone, whether they are ordinary citizens or part of the government, even if they have no direct connection to the case.

Among those who have faced legal consequences in the past is an individual who was accused of "liking" a Facebook page that was considered disrespectful towards the late King Bhumibol and posting a sarcastic photo featuring his pet dog.

A Thai woman received a record-breaking 43-year prison sentence in 2021 for sharing audio clips on YouTube and Facebook that were deemed to be critical of the royal family. According to local NGO Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), between July 2020 and July 2023, a total of 1,918 individuals have faced legal action for their political participation and expression, including 215 cases involving children.

According to TLHR, during that period, a total of 253 individuals have been charged with lese majeste. The recent surge in lese majeste charges and arrests is attributed to the commitment made by former Thai Prime Minister and coup leader, Prayut Chan-o-cha, in 2020, where he vowed to defend the monarchy from pro-democracy protesters.

Despite once being a forbidden topic, the discussions surrounding the modernization of the monarchy and changes to lese majeste laws have reached a significant turning point following the recent protests. People are now more willing to openly discuss and express their opinions on the monarchy, despite the potential legal consequences.

While the reformist Move Forward party currently faces opposition and parliamentary discussions regarding section 112 have been halted, the youth movement insists that these issues are firmly ingrained in public awareness and cannot be easily silenced.