A draft legislation aimed at penalizing people making online
defamatory remarks against the monarchy has been proposed by a
group of MPs from the opposition Democrat Party on November 18,
media reports said.

"The Nation" also reported that the proposed law would also punish
those who wrongly accuse or attempt to frame up others of such a
wrongdoing.

This development came as the incidence of defamatory or contemptuous
remarks against the monarchy has reportedly risen.

The law's proponents explained that at present there is no law that
deals with offenders of lese majeste through modern electronic
means, such as on Internet websites and in computer systems.

Under the bill, anyone uploading inaccurate content about the
monarchy on the Internet or a computer system faces a jail term of
between three to 20 years or a fine ranging from Bt200,000 to
Bt800,000.

Those uploading defamatory or contemptuous content about the
monarchy face, on the other hand, an imprisonment of five to 20
years or a fine of between Bt300,000 to Bt800,000.

The proposed law will also punish anyone falsely accusing others of
such wrongdoings, with imprisonment of three to 20 years and a fine
ranging from Bt200,000 to Bt800,000.

It also seeks to punish people hiring others to do the job for
them, the Internet service provider or computer system
administrator who fails to cooperate, as well as repeat offenders.

The main proponent of the new legislation, Democrat MP Piraphan
Saliratviphak, earlier proposed amendments to the Penal Code and
the Computer Act provisions regarding lese majeste.