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ec. 3, Online

Human Rights Watch is urging Thailand’s government to amend harsh laws aimed at protecting the monarchy.

The New York-based rights group’s call on Saturday comes after a Bangkok court sentenced a Thai man last month to 20 years in prison for sending mobile phone text messages to a personal secretary of then prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva that were deemed offensive to the queen.

Your comments:

Any institution that can’t or won’t be criticized is a feeble institution. While the Thai people have a great respect and love for the monarchy — and especially the present king, and for very good reasons he is a wonderful man as far as men and kings go, no institution on this Earth made up of frail humans is beyond criticism.

I believe there are also certain limits to criticizing the President and the Presidential office in Indonesia.

Why? Apart from manners and blatant offensiveness — why should there be rules that limit legitimate — I stress — legitimate freedom of speech and legitimate criticism?

Phillip Turnbull