Page 35 - Journal451
P. 35
วารสารราชบััณฑิิตยสภา
ปีีที่่� ๔๕ ฉบัับัที่่� ๑ มกราคม-เมษายน ๒๕๖๓
นายกฤษฎา บุุณยสมิิต 23
คัำ�สำำ�คััญ : คดีีพญาระกา หมิ่ิ�นป็ระมิ่าทโดียการโฆษณา พระบาทสำมิ่เดี็จพระจุลจอมิ่เกล้า
เจ้าอย่่หัวั พระเจ้าบรมิ่วังศ์เธอ กรมิ่พระนราธิป็ป็ระพันธ์พงศ์ พระเจ้าบรมิ่วังศ์เธอ
กรมิ่หลวังราชื่บุรีดีิเรกฤทธิ�
Abstract: Phaya RaKa Case−A Lesson from Thai History
Mr. Krisda Punyasmita
Associate Fellow of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences,
The Royal Society of Thailand
The Phya Raka case is an important case in Thai legal history. Prince
Narathip Praphanphongse (Krom Phra Narathip Praphanphongse) was accused
of defamation because of his play, written and performed in 2453 B.E,
“Paksi Pakaranam Rueang Phaya Raka” (Mythology of a Bird Called Phaya Raka).
He was alleged to have written the play with an intention to insulted Prince
Ratchaburi Direkrit (Krom Luang Ratchaburi Direkrit), Minister of Justice, who was
Prince Narathip’s nephew. Considering his uncle’s play as seriously detrimental to
his honor and dignity, Prince Ratchaburi had tried to seek justice from the judicial
panel and upheld the dignity owing to the face that he was appointed as
Minister of Justice at the time. Adding more frustration to the young prince,
Prince Ratchaburi had misunderstood his father, King Chulalongkorn since
he thought that the king had already known of the play but did not say
anything to protect his honor. He considered, in dismay, that in that
circumstance he had no alternative but to resign from the Justice Minister’s
post. He then left Bangkok without bidding farewell to the king in accord
with a royal etiquette. 28 court judges followed suit, tendering their
resignations to the king, and thereby causing damage to the work of the
Ministry of Justice. When the king was aware of what had happened, he
commanded that a judicial panel be appointed to consider the case. The
panel duly delivered a judgement in due course. King Chulalongkorn then
gave a verdict on the punishment of Prince Narathip for libel, imposing a