<p><font size="2">The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to present the speech given by Mr. John J. Clancey, Chairperson of the Asian Human Rights Commission at the Awards Ceremony for the Asian Human Rights Defender Award 2008.</font></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma">The re-enlistment of Duang Yoobamrung to the Royal Thai Army is only the latest in an interesting line of government appointments.<span> <br /></span></span></p>

<p>The cyclone hit and junta&rsquo;s handling in the aftermath has even intensified and justified the opposition struggle against the ruling Thatmadaw and its desperately-determined referendum Saturday. Maung Maung, secretary general of the National Council of Union of Burma--- an anti-junta umbrella organization including ethnic groups, has called for a real sanction concertedly coordinated by the international community.</font></p>

<p>On Tuesday morning, Oct 5, 1976, an ultra-rightist group called the &lsquo;Housewives Club&rsquo; held a demonstration at the Royal Plaza to protest the government in light of the crisis caused by Field Marshal Thanom&rsquo;s return.<span>&nbsp; </span>The protest went on until almost the afternoon when someone raised the issue of a photograph of a re-enactment that had been staged by Thammasat students at noon of the previous day, Oct 4.<span>&nbsp; </span>This portrayed the hanging of two electricians in Nakhon Pathom who had been protesting against Thanom.<span>&nbsp; </span>A photograph of the scene was published on the front page of the Bangkok Post the following day.<span>&nbsp; </span>The protesters claimed that the face of one of the students who took the role of a hanged electrician resembled that of the Crown Prince, and accused the students of l&egrave;se majest&eacute;.</font></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma">The royal anthem was first played in entertainment venues in Siam before the 1932 revolution. According to <em>State Ceremony of Siam</em>, which describes ceremonial affairs during the reign of Rama VII, prior to the democratization of Siam, an elderly lady failed to rise at the royal anthem and was arrested by police.<span>&nbsp; </span>Prince Phra Nakhonsawan Vorapinit who was present at the arrest ordered the immediate release of the woman. He reasoned that standing is a Western custom, and it had just recently been adopted here; the lady did no wrong in not rising.<span> <br /></span></span></p>

<p>Thailand&#39;s most powerful political and social &quot;hammer&quot; may be the kingdom&#39;s lese majeste law. The law, expressed in Article 112 of the Criminal Code, states, &quot;Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be punished (with) imprisonment of three to fifteen years.&quot;</font></p>

<p>The Shadow Boxing column by Korn Chatikavanij in the Bangkok Post of 8 April contains the statement that &lsquo;the best way of ensuring there will be no shortage [of rice] is to trust in the market mechanism&rsquo;.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma">Respect for the monarchy has become a crucial issue in Thai society in light of the human mortality of His Majesty King Bhumibol. Thailand is not unique in having <em>l&egrave;se majest&eacute;</em> law. </span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Tahoma;">A well-known Thai historian points out that the practice of standing for the Royal Anthem in Thai theatres was adopted from Britain about a hundred years ago, and was long dropped by the British people.</span></p>

<p>My first moral dilemma with upright patriotism occurred after watching John Schlesinger&#39;s <em>Far From the Madding Crowd</em> at the old Ceilidh on Lothian Road. You see, for most films, you knew who was playing who, or you didn&#39;t care, so who needed to watch a film through to the bitter end? As soon as the credits started rolling, you were on your feet, grabbing your coat, your unfinished popcorn and the arm of whoever you had come with, in a determined dash in the dark to make the exit before the credits ended and the National Anthem was played.</p>

<p><font size="2">This article was submitted to the Nation on Monday 22 April 2008, but the newspaper apparently decided not to publish it, although the Bangkok Post ran a similar front page story on Wednesday. Mr. Pravit also asked for a reason from his supervisor and was told that a higher authority had made decision that publication &#39;carries a certain risk&#39; </font><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma"></span></p>

<p><span>A state which declares itself a legal state has to accept the role of the judiciary to maintain checks and balances on the execution of power by the legislative and executive branches. To control the latter, the judiciary is responsible for deliberating on the legality of any administrative action, and to control the former, to consider the constitutionality of any legislation passed by parliament</span></p>