(11 December) Pheu Thai Party spokesman has accused the leader of the anti-government protests of disrespecting the monarchy in his campaign to unseat Prime Minister Yingluck.
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In a press conference, Mr. Prompong Nopparit criticised the secretary-general of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King as Head of State (PCAD), Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, for refusing to stop his protests even though the Prime Minister has already dissolved the parliament and called new election.
Mr. Suthep has previously claimed to have seized power of the government in accordance with Article 3 of the Constitution, which stated that the sovereign powers of Thailand belong to the citizens. Mr. Suthep has also demanded directors of state agencies to report to the PCAD and acknowledge it as the legitimate transitional government.
But Mr. Prompong said such actions clearly amount to organising an insurrection against the state and violating the Royal Power of His Majesty the King.
According to Mr. Prompong, since Article 3 of the 2007 Constitution stated that His Majesty the King exercised the sovereign power via the Parliament, the Cabinet, and the Court as a Head of State, Mr. Suthep has disrespected the monarch by claiming to exercise the sovereign power on his own as PCAD leader.
He said he would file lese majeste charge against Mr. Suthep with the Division of Special Investigation (DSI).
Lese majeste, or insult of monarchy, can be punished with a maximum of 15 years in prison per offence under Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Codes.
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