Thai activist risks jail to stay seated during royal anthem
Published 9:58 pm Friday, April 25, 2008
BANGKOK, Thailand — Movies in Thailand are always preceded by an on-screen patriotic anthem honoring King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a ritual that sees viewers spring to their feet.
It’s a gesture most Thais don’t think twice about, but activist Chotisak Onsoong says it violates his freedom of choice — and he says he’s willing to risk a 15-year jail term to make his point.
Police said Friday they are pressing ahead with an investigation on whether to prosecute Chotisak on charges of lese majeste — insulting the monarchy — for failing to stand during the playing of the royal anthem at a movie last September.
Chotisak said it should be a matter of choice whether he sits or stands during the music, and his failure to stand does not signal disrespect of the king.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, and its laws mandate a jail term of three years to 15 years for “Whoever defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir to the throne or the regent.”
Prosecutions, however, are relatively rare — usually a handful a year — not surprising in a country where the 80-year-old king is almost universally revered as a selfless and hardworking benefactor of the people.
The issue was highlighted last year when a Swiss man, apparently drunk, received a 10-year prison sentence for defacing images of the monarch.
He was pardoned by the king after serving about a month behind bars.
Other cases involve ordinary citizens spreading political rumors or prurient gossip about the royal family.
More typically, however, the charge is used for political purposes — politicians like to wrap themselves in royalist colors by accusing rivals of denigrating the throne.
This case is apparently the first meant as an explicit challenge to the lese majeste law.
Formerly a student activist, the 27-year-old continued his political activities by joining an antimilitary group after a 2006 coup deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Chotisak says he now is only concerned about freedom of choice.
“Thai society tells everyone in the world that this is a democratic society,” he said. “I think everyone in Thailand should respect differences.”
