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Date:         Wed, 19 Aug 1992 14:05:35 -0700
Comments:     Warning -- original Sender: tag was keyes@MILTON.U.WASHINGTON.EDU
From:         Charles Keyes <keyes@U.WASHINGTON.EDU>
Subject:      Sulak Sivaraksa
X-To:         seasia-l@msu.edu

=09Ajarn Sulak is still in exile after ten months despite all of the
political changes which have taken place in Thailand.  The charges against
him, and especially the charge of lese majeste, have not been withdrawn so
if he were to return he would still be arrested and prosecuted.  Thai
students in Germany wrote a letter which was published a few days ago in
the Thai newspaper <<Phucatkan>> (Manager) in which they asked why an
amnesty has been extended to Suchina et al but not to Sulak.  I have also
written a similar letter to the King and urge others to do the same.  I am
including my letter.
****
                                                         August 19, 1992

H.M. King Bhumipol Adulyadej=20
The Grand Palace=20
Bangkok 10200=20
Thailand

Your Majesty,

=09As a scholar on Thai studies, I have been following the recent
political events in Thailand with great interest.  I feel that your
Majesty's role in resolving the recent conflicts has been exemplary.  Some
have suggested that Your Majesty intervened too little and too late for
your people.  Those of us who understand the delicacy of the monarchy,
however, realize that Your Majesty succeeded in restoring calm and order
in a manner which could not have been accomplished by any other Head of
State in Asia or anywhere else.  Again, some may not be happy that
General Suchinda Kraprayoon and those of his colleagues who ordered the
killing of the people last May received a royal decree of amnesty.  Those
of us who study Buddhism understand, however, that compas sion and
forgiveness are very strong elements in the teaching of the Buddha, and
that it is better to let the law of karma punish the evildoers rather than
try to use the western system of justice to punish the killers of the
people.=20

=09Notwithstanding Your Majesty's wise handling of the May events, it
does not seem just that General Suchinda and his associates should have
received royal amnesty while Mr. Sulak Sivaraksa, who was the first to
expose the General's bad intentions towards the nation, the Buddhist
religion and the monarchy, should still be in exile.  It creates an
unfortunate impression both towards Your Majesty personally and towards
the monarchy in general.  As all those who know him are aware, Mr. Sulak
Sivaraksa is a devout monarchist.  Everywhere he goes he defends the
monarchy.  He even raises public consciousness abroad about the royal
family, acquainting people overseas with the celebration of the centenary
of your late august father, H.R.H. Prince Mahidol of Songkhla.  What Mr.
Sulak argues is that if even constructive criticism of the monarchy is
regarded as an act of lese majeste this could, in the long run, prove
detrimental to the monarchy, even turning the ruler into a deva raja
rather than enabling him to rem ain a dhamma raja.=20

=09I have heard that Your Majesty is of the opinion that since Mr.
Sulak has not yet been convicted of a crime, it is not therefore possible
for Your Majesty to forgive him or pardon him.  But the mere fact that the
Prime Minister, Mr. Anand Panyarachun, could not even order the Public
Prosecutor to withdraw the lese majeste charge against Mr. Sulak, shows=20
both the seriousness of the situation and the fact that civil servants do
not take orders from an interim government.=20

=09Eight years ago Your Majesty magnanimously asked the Prime
Minister and the Public Prosecutor to withdraw a lese majeste case against
Mr. Sulak.  This gracious act was widely acclaimed all over the world.  At
the present time Thailand needs national reconciliation and world support
for her democratic movement.  Your Majesty could help towards this
direction most effectively, as Your Majesty's support behind the scenes
clearly shows that Mr. Anand has been granted the authority to remove even
top military personnel from important positions and to distance them from
economic enterprises.=20

=09Mr. Sulak's case may not be a major issue, but the longer it
remains unresolved amicably the longer it places strain on Thailand's
efforts at national reconciliation while at the same time it also creates
an unfortunate and erroneous impression about the monarchy.

=09Believe me, Your Majesty, I have no wish to interfere in Thai
politics, and indeed hope you will not regard it as presumptuous on the
part of a farang to even address you on this issue, but as one who loves
your country and wishes to see it develop peace fully and democratically I
believe Your Majesty alone can act constitutionally, through your Prime
Minister and the Public Prosecutor, to obtain the withdrawal of the lese
majeste=82 charge against Mr. Sulak Sivaraksa.  It is true thathe is an
outspoken critic and at times his language is not as temperate as it
might be, but he truly loves his country, Buddhism and his king.  Only
through Your Majesty's grace can such a man be allowed to enjoy his
liberty at home and permitted to contribute to the democrati c development
of your great kingdom.=20

=09=09=09=09=09=09=09Yours respectfully,
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09Charles F. Keyes
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