Amid international concerns on the abuse of Thailand’s lèse majesté law, the Thai Justice Minister said other countries did not understand that the law is necessary for Thailand since they did not have civilization, sensitivity, and gentleness.

 

Gen Paiboon Koomchaya, the Minister of Justice, said in having the King, Thailand was unique and civilized. That makes Article 112, or the lèse majesté law, necessary, Bluesky Channel reported.

 

“They don’t have 70 years [of the King’s reign] like us. They don’t. They don’t have civilization, sensitivity, and the gentleness that we have received; tell them this,” Paiboon said, telling the media to report what he said to the international community. 

 

In response to international concerns on the human rights situation of Thailand in the recent Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at Geneva, on Wednesday, 11 April 2016, Gen Paiboon Koomchaya, told the media at the Government Complex that Thailand needed to compromise human rights principles for the sake of peace and order, claiming that it is just a temporary situation, Matichon Online reported.

 

“To reform the country into peace and order, we have to do this. This might not comply with international principles but we all know what the country looked like before 22 May 2014. It is thus necessary for us to have some unique regulations for a while, but not permanently,” said Paiboon.