On Sunday police charged a woman with royal defamation after a mob at Koh Samui demanded action over a Facebook post about the heir and regent. This contravenes the “lese majeste” law.
It was the second time in two days in the South that a mob demanded instant justice for alleged lese majeste offences.
On Friday an angry mob descended on a soy milk factory in Phuket to demand the arrest of the son of the owner. Military and civilian police eventually dispersed the mob without injuries or arrests.
The woman in Samui, who has not been named by police, was accused of posting a derogatory statement on Facebook last Friday, the day after the death of King Bhumibol was announced.
Bophut district police gave no details, other than the woman had been arrested on charges that she had violated Section 212 of the Criminal Code, concerning lese majeste.
There were no comments made against the late King , rather it involved the heir and the regent, according to Regent pro tempore, Gen Prem Tinsulanonda.
The arrest and charges were a direct result of an angry mob descending on Bophut police station on Sunday demanding the woman be charged.
Insults were then hurled at the woman, according to videos widely shown on Facebook.
The videos showed the woman publicly prostrating herself in apology before a portrait of the late king.
This followed on from last Friday when police had to call in military reinforcements to deal with a mob seeking instant justice for an alleged lese majeste case in Phuket .
A crowd of more than 1,000 people gathered after claims that the son of an owner of soy milk factory had made Facebook posts insulting the late monarch.
Police and military officers informed the crowd that they had interviewed the accused man and released him without charges.
However, the unruly gathering was not satisfied with the efforts of the police, according to eyewitnesses.
The Phuket police chief explained that the police had no power to detain the man, who remained anonymous. Officers could find no evidence of any wrongdoing and the words posted online were not considered “direct defamation”.
However, the police did say that if they gathered sufficient evidence, they would ask a court for an arrest warrant.
Unfortunately, his clarification failed to satisfy the protesters and at 12.30am they were asked to open the way to traffic. Military police then intervened to help to disperse the crowd.
These incidents are a timely reminder that this is a very sensitive time for Thailand. Whilst there is never an excuse for “mob rule”, everyone needs to be very careful about what they say and write.
Regarding the Crown Prince, much has been said and written about him in the past. However, he is the next King of Thailand and for the good of the whole country, the slate should be wiped clean.
He should be given a fair chance to follow in the footsteps of his remarkable father, something which he will not find easy. He needs the support of the government and the people in the difficult times that lie ahead.
(Thanks to Bangkok Post)