Thai royal family taboo

Apr 14, 2010, 12:02 GMT

Thailand's Foreign Minister has broken an unprecedented royal taboo.

The country's King Bhumibol Adulyadej - who is currently suffering from a series of health problems - has reportedly been deeply offended by remarks made by Kasit Piromya, who broke strict protocol by calling for an open debate on reform of the country's monarchy.

The unprecedented proposal by Kasit was made in a land where discussing the role of the royal family is forbidden and could lead to a possible 15 year prison sentence.

Kasit compared his country's monarchy to that of Britain and the Netherlands where it is acceptable to criticise the royal families, but is regarded as an insult and crime to the king.

He said: "It is a process that we have to go through and I think we should be brave enough to go through all of this and to talk about even the taboo subject of the institution of the monarchy.

"I think we have to talk about the institution of the monarchy, how it would have to reform itself to the modern globalised world. Everything is now becoming in the open. Let's have a discussion: what type of democratic society would we like to be?"

Kasit is the most senior politician to speak openly about reforming the monarchy.

It is not yet known whether any charges will be brought against the minister.