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Thai Royalists Say 'Faith' in Monarchy Winning as Protests Quiet

VOA News

   BANGKOK - As unprecedented verbal attacks rain down on the Thai
   monarchy, Warisanun Sribawontanakit, a supporter of that monarchy, says
   protecting the palace from its critics is a battle of "faith" that has
   set her on a crusade to patrol the internet for instances of royal
   defamation by pro-democracy protesters.

   Thailand is a kingdom divided. A mainly young, social media-driven
   pro-democracy movement is mounting an unprecedented challenge to the
   wealth and influence of Thailand's once-untouchable monarchy, calling
   for King Maha Vajiralonkorn's power to be constrained clearly within
   the constitution.

   That call has shocked and outraged royalists, who are older,
   conservative and now determined to use a lull in the rowdy street
   rallies to use the draconian lèse-majesté law -- which carries
   penalties of up to 15 years in jail per charge -- to arrest those
   leading the criticism of the monarchy.

   So far 40 protesters, the youngest aged 16, have been charged under the
   law, many following complaints generated from protests, comments and
   videos on Thai social media.

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