Thailand, court dissolves opposition party critical of military rule

Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday dissolved an opposition political party that has been critical of the military establishment and banned its leader from politics for 10 years over a loan he gave the party.

The Future Forward Party, led by billionaire heir Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, 41, has been critical of military dominance of politics. The court action took place less than a year after Thailand held an election to end direct military rule. It came third in the election, winning support from many young people and 81 of the 500 seats contested in parliament.

Constitutional Court Judge Panya Utchachon said “The party is ordered to be dissolved according to the 2017 political party law.” This is due to the party taking a 191 million Baht (£4.67 million or $6 million) loan from Thanathorn.

The court on Friday said the loan to the party amounted to a donation because it did not follow commercial practices in lending and election law limits donations from an individual to 10 million baht ($318,167). Thanathorn argued that the financial arrangements were all above board. Despite this, the court also banned Thanathorn and 15 other party executives from politics for 10 years.

The court action strengthens the position in parliament of a coalition led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former junta leader who first took power in a 2014 coup. Soon after the ruling, Prayuth urged the public to respect the court’s decision.

The Future Forward Party and Thanathorn have denied any wrongdoing. In a statement Thanathorn said “Future Forward is more than a party. You can dissolve the party but you cannot dissolve its people.” Most of the party’s members of parliament will retain their seats and can form a new party but the ban on its leaders will reduce the opposition’s votes and its ability to block Prayuth’s agenda.

The ruling, which comes as a blow to the party, follows a recent ruling by Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled on Janurary 21st, that the key figured within the party were not guilty of opposing the monarchy.

Thanathorn also faces two criminal charges, one for computer crimes for a speech he posted criticising the junta in 2018, and another for sedition for allegedly aiding anti-junta protesters in 2015. In total, nearly 30 cases have been brought against Future Forward leaders.

The European Union (EU) call the court’s decision a set-back for the country’s political pluralism. “Dissolving political parties or banning Members of Parliament runs counter to the process of restoring pluralism initiated last year. Political space in Thailand should remain open,” the EU said in a statement.

A group of parliamentarians from members the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) issued a statement saying the military is still pulling the strings in both politics and the judiciary.

“Last year’s election was supposed to bring an end to military rule in Thailand, but after today no one is fooled into believing this is the case,” said Francisca Castro, a Philippine lawmaker and member of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights.

Prayuth’s pro-army party came first in the March 2019 election but opposition parties say electoral laws written by the junta were designed to give the military establishment control over politics.

SOURCE (REUTERS)