Protecting the King of Thailand on the Internet

No one in Thailand is being accorded with reverence nearly divine except for its symbolic head, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Even with the changing political landscape brought about by 17 military coups in the country, the king remains unfazed as Thais bow down before his majestic presence.

There were manifestations depicting how Thais are in awe of the king. When people saw the king wearing a dazzling pink blazer once, pink shirts were soon being sold across the country. Almost everywhere, the streets were flooded with a stream of Thais dressed in pink.

Just recently, supporters of the king established a website urging Internet users to cooperate with them and asking Thais to show loyalty to the king by protecting his image.

Protect the King Website

The front page of the site, protecttheking.net, holds that the people of Thailand should exhibit loyalty to the king by guarding him against defamation or insults. It directly invited citizens online to report websites deemed antagonistic to the king. Within its first 24 hours of operation, the site succeeded in blocking 4,818 websites on the grounds of defamation.

The campaign was not the first of its own. Back in 2007, the Thai government was able to block Thai access to a YouTube video deemed offensive to the king. Several leaders of the military junta from then on maintained that the YouTube video was an attempt to weaken the monarchy and destabilize the country in general.

Millions of baht were spent to restrict online activity considered injurious to the image of the king. The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) initiated the move to block thousands of websites containing defamatory contents.

Reverence to the King of Thailand

The king has a mystique that the people of Thailand have always revered. Reporting from Thailand, BBC correspondent Jonathan Head confirmed such statement in his account, “Why Thailand’s king is so revered.”

He recalled how the people of Thailand can endure long hours of waiting just to have a glimpse of “a stiff and stern-faced old man,” in motorcade, heading for Bangkok’s Grand Palace. Some were in tears as they watched the spectacle. “Song Phra Charoen (Long Live Your Majesty),” the crowd chanted as the he passed.

The people’s reverence to the king is manifested in his titles such as Phra Chao Yu Hua (Lord Upon our Heads) or Chao Chiwit (Lord of Life). Virtually almost everyone in Thailand speak of him lovingly as if he is an important member of the household.

“He is as much a spiritual leader as a worldly one,” said BBC correspondent Jonathan Head. When people are asked about the king’s virtues, they would mention his correct adherence to the Buddhist principles and teachings.

Former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachum asserted that the king’s power lies in his lifetime dedication to his job. Such power, since it has been accumulated for years, is something that cannot be inherited or bequeathed.

Lese Majeste Laws in Thailand

Since 1908, laws pertaining to lèse majesté in Thailand have been inscribed in the Thai criminal code and in every Thai constitution. The current charter is direct and clear-cut in stating: “The King shall be enthroned in a position of revered worship and shall not be violated. No person shall expose the King to any sort of accusation or action.”

In Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, penalties for break the said law were inserted stating: Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen, or the Heir-apparent, shall be punished with imprisonment of three to 15 years.” However, the terms “defame” or insult” were not clearly defined in the piece of legislation.

To date, none from the member of the Royal Family has personally filed any defamation charges. The king, in fact, hinted at his stance on the lèse majesté law during his birthday speech in 2005, saying: “Actually, I must also be criticized. I am not afraid if the criticism concerns what I do wrong, because then I know. But the King can do wrong.”