EDITORIAL
The two protests against a newspaper by soldiers in uniform was as inappropriate as it was illegal. State and military law both forbid such actions, and rightly so. The men who organised the twin rallies outside the ASTV Manager newspaper office must be called to account. The alleged "offence" by the newspaper is entirely in the minds of the soldiers, who have no right to try to use their positions in the Royal Thai Army against the publication.
The soldiers' rally was sparked by an offensive turn of phrase in the newspaper, which is the unabashed mouthpiece of the yellow shirts and the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). It called the army commander, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha "a woman on her period". That was after Gen Prayuth dismissed PAD's jingoism over the Preah Vihear temple at the Cambodian border. Rather than support the ultra-nationalist and xenophobic views of the PAD, Gen Prayuth backed government policy and appeals to the International Court of Justice.
At every level, the remark by ASTV Manager was offensive, juvenile, and has no place in public discourse _ not for the army chief, not for any person. But in no way was it actionable.
The protests at the newspaper office by men in uniform gave two impressions. One is that the army backs intimidation of the media in case of any allegedly anti-military remark. The other is that army commanders cannot control their own officers and men, and make them follow regulations which specifically bar partisan politics by men and women in uniform.
A seemingly modest suggestion by the Democrat Party is also troubling. Influential list-MP Ong-art Klampaibul said soldiers offended by the ASTV Manager newspaper should take the publication to court.
If anything, this is less helpful and worse than a non-violent street protest by soldiers in uniform. Any such lawsuit would seem to have the backing of the entire army and Royal Thai Armed Forces.
Attempting to use the justice system is a dangerous move in a matter where nothing happened except that some feelings were hurt.
The soldiers at last week's rallies were wrong to use their uniforms to express their private opinions. The Democrat Party MP is wrong precisely because there was no legal offence committed. Any attempt by soldiers to use the courts against the newspaper would be seen correctly as an attack by the army on press freedom. The army is the most intimidating organised force in the country.
Gen Prayuth eventually did the right thing, issuing specific orders to end the rally. It took him two days, leaving the question of whether he thinks a little intimidation of the media is all right. There is, typically, no word on what action, if any, will be taken against the soldiers who broke military law and regulations.
In a free society, the answer to offensive speech is more speech. Those offended by the ASTV Manager's phrase _ and everyone should be _ can make their opinions known in many peaceful and legal ways. As citizens, soldiers have the right to make comments; they just don't have the right to do it in uniform, as if they are acting on behalf of the army.
Gen Prayuth's order for the uniformed protesters to return to the barracks should have included that reminder, so the public would be clear.
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/01/15/army-protest-way-out-of-line/
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