Lese majeste allegations came into focus again yesterday, as foreign media become more interested in the growing number of charges and about what's really happening in Thailand.

One of those charged, Thammasat University historian Somsak Jiamtheerasakul, said yesterday that lese majeste law was being used to prosecute people "who express anything different from the official version" about the monarchy.

Somsak made the remark after he heard lese majeste charges filed against him by the Thai Army at Nang Lerng Police Station.

Somsak, a prominent critic of lese majeste law and the monarchical institution, was charged for two articles critical of Princess Chulabhorn's recent television interview.

The offending pieces first appeared on the Prachatai online newspaper and were deemed defamatory to the monarchy by the Army.

Somsak, who was greeted by around 50 supporters at the police station, urged the public to closely monitor the role of the Army and called the charges against him "politically" motivated.

He added that lese majeste law, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years' imprisonment, was creating a climate of fear and was likely to be abused further.

Somsak, who walked away from the police station a free man, will soon submit his defence in writing arguing that he did not commit lese majeste.

He urged the media and his supporters not to forget others who had been detained under lese majeste law such as Red Siam leader Surachai Sae-Dan and Red Power magazine editor Somyos Prueksakasemsuk.

Supporters shouted: "Somsak Fight, Fight!" and "Long Live the People!" repeatedly as Somsak left the police station, some offering him red roses.

Standing among the crowd was another man charged with lese majeste: Air Force Squadron Leader Chanin Klayklung. Chanin was accused late last year of posting inflammatory remarks about the monarchy online.

Chanin was wearing his blue Air Force uniform and came to offer moral support to Somsak. He said he had not received his salary for a month as he had been suspended and would be put on trial in a military court on July 12.

"I couldn't take it when people were slaughtered [in April and May last year]. We know what's going on," said Chanin, without elaboration.

In the afternoon, and about half an hour's drive away, National Human Rights Commissioner (NHRC) Niran Pitakwatchara spent an hour meeting with jailed Red Power editor Somyos, who has been detained at Bangkok Remand Prison since the beginning of this month.

Niran said after emerging from the prison that the growing abuse of lese majeste law might lead to greater political conflict and violence.

"We can't leave it as it is. If we leave it as it is, there will be more problems."

Niran, who heads the NHRC subcommittee on civic and political rights, admitted he had no data on how many people were in prison for allegedly violating lese majeste law, but said "there are many", with some being tried under the Computer Crimes Act. He promised to make a compilation of all the cases soon.

Niran also mentioned another lese majeste detainee whom he had just learnt about: a 61-year-old Thai Chinese by the name of Ar-Kong or Amphon, jailed for allegedly sending a SMS message which he insists did not come from him.