Word: majestic
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...every evening for a month and a half. The initiative faced ridicule in the national media, but it was presumably designed to placate the nationalist army faction to whom Abhisit's administration is beholden. Thailand also continues to court international criticism for the strict application of lèse-majesté laws that dissuade open discussion of the royal family and succession issues. Under Abhisit's tenure, the number of high-profile lèse-majesté cases working their way through Thai courts has increased. Shortly after Abhisit told TIME that "there has been an improvement [although] there...
...putsch that overthrew one of Thailand's most popular - but also most divisive - Prime Ministers. Yet any implication of political maneuvering within the royal circle is incendiary in a nation where many practically deify the throne. One of Thaksin's lieutenants has already been charged with lèse-majesté, punishable in Thailand by up to 15 years in jail. The ruling Democrat Party has vowed to root out antimonarchy material on the Internet and has banned thousands of Web pages deemed offensive to the royal family. (Read a TIME Q&A with Thaksin...
...Prominent scholars from around the world recently came together to criticize the way in which Thailand's lèse-majesté laws have been used to charge or jail several people, including an academic and a foreigner. What is your opinion of what has happened? The laws have been there for many years. It was not that serious until now. They use the words 'loyal' or 'not loyal' to the monarchy as a tool to fight for power. That is bad for the monarchy and it's bad for Thailand. We should not allow this to happen...
...Foreigners have also run afoul of Thailand's lèse-majesté laws. Recently accused expatriates include an Australian teacher whose novel referenced a fictional wayward prince, and the BBC's Thailand-based correspondent whose online pieces described the role of the monarchy within Thai politics. Both cases have prompted an outcry from international human-rights organizations. "By trying to protect the King's image, the government is actually doing it harm, and in some cases the charge of lèse-majesté has been entirely inappropriate and unjustified," said media watchdog Reporters Without Borders...
...protect Thailand's monarchy from criticism. Thailand's military appears to share a similar mission. Late last month, army chief Anupong Paochinda reiterated that it was the military's duty to protect the royal institution and ordered his men to report any possible instances of lèse-majesté, according to local news reports. Anupong also urged battalion commanders to comb the Internet for antimonarchy material. With the military now on the case, Thailand's Internet war room just got a lot more ammunition...