Student Faces Prison for Speaking Out in Royalist Thailand

     The lèse majesté law, also known as Article 112 in Thailand, states that no person shall commit an offense or crime against the ruler or supreme power of a state. The ramifications of this law has caused the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to voice her opposition of Article 112, “we are concerned about the ongoing trials and harsh sentencing of people convicted of lèse majesté in Thailand and the chilling effect that this is having on freedom of expression in the country.” She continues by urging Thailand authorities to amend the laws on lèse majesté. I appreciate the position that she is in and the delicacy with which this situation needs to be handled but amendment is no longer the answer to this problem. Article 112 needs to be abolished.