US envoy's comments draw royalists' criticisms
US Ambassador Glyn T Davies hosted a press conference on Monday, where he answered questions including those regarding to his comments on the lese majeste law that draws heavy criticisms from Thai royalists.
He told reporters that he would join "Bike for Dad", the cycling programme in honour of His Majesty the King. He had ordered a bike, he said.
Last week, he expressed concern about the long prison terms handed down under the Article 112 or lese majeste law. He said no one should go to prison for expressing their opinions.
A group of royalists in several provinces, from Buri Ram to Krabi and Phuket, today submitted their petitions to governors, demanding actions from Thailand's Foreign Affairs Ministry against the envoy.
Mongkol Ratana who led about 150 people in Phuket to the City Hall said that the ambassador should not have criticised the law aimed at protecting the Thai monarch. Meanwhile, his comments that may stir resistance against the law was diplomatically inappropriate, Mongkol added.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters this morning that the envoy should have considered it thoroughly before commenting on this issue. It has been clear that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has honoured human rights, in the way that no junta had done, he said. He also insisted that the junta has done its best in charting the country's future.
Davies paid Prawit a visit in the morning. It was reported that he expressed disappointment in Thailand's deportation of two Chinese refugees back to China.
Asked by reporters if he feels safe while working in Thailand, Davies said he felt extremely safe.
