Thai police seek to prosecute leader of anti-junta party popular with young

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat

 

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the Future Forward Party, talks to media during a campaign rally in Bangkok, Thailand, February 20, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police said on Wednesday said they were seeking the prosecution of the leader of a new political party over a speech he made that was posted on Facebook criticising the ruling junta, just over a month before a general election.

 

The legal action against Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, 40, and two senior colleagues in the Future Forward Party, which has attracted the support of young voters, will add to concern that the military is determined to retain a hold over politics, even after the return of civilian rule in the March 24 vote.

 

"We will send both the case for prosecution and the suspects to the attorney-general," Police Lieutenant Colonel Krit Seneewong Na Ayutthaya, an investigator on the case from the police cyber crime division, told Reuters.

 

Thanathorn, an auto parts billionaire and newcomer to the political scene, and his two colleagues could be jailed for five years under the Computer Crime Act for "uploading false information" in a speech posted on Facebook in June last year.

 

Krit said the case would be referred next week to state prosecutors, who will decide whether to take it to court.

 

The Future Forward Party has denied the charge, saying the points made in the speech were public information.

 

"It's obvious that as the election approaches, the case is being rushed ahead ... We're ready to face whatever challenge comes our way," Thanathorn told reporters at a rally in Bangkok on Wednesday.

 

Hundreds of young people, many of them students, turned out for the rally. Most took pictures and videos of Thanathorn and some queued up to take selfies with him.

 

The hashtag "#SaveThanathorn" was trending on Thai Twitter.

 

Next month's general election is the first since a 2014 military coup.

 

While the vote is being highly anticipated by political parties and voters, some grumble that a new constitution, drafted under military supervision, will ensure that the generals will retain a significant role in politics.

 

Thanathorn launched his party last year, promoting it as an alternative to Thailand's polarised politics, which has for years pitted loyalists of ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra against establishment parties supporting the military-royalist elite.

 

Thanathorn has been critical of military rule, recently pledging to prosecute coup-makers and amend the new constitution.

 

(Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Robert Birsel)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-21

 

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

concern that the military is determined to retain a hold over politics, even after the return of civilian rule in the March 24 vote.

Sad really, isn't it ?

"...Thai police said on Wednesday said they were seeking the prosecution of the leader of a new political party over a speech he made that was posted on Facebook criticising the ruling junta, just over a month before a general election..."

 

Prosecuting the leader of one of the main opposition parties to the ruling Junta? 

 

My my, what a free and fair election!

 

Actually, I find this quite interesting. The FFP must be trending a great deal of support if the PTB feel that there is a need to use extra-legal measures to try to knock them out of the race; I would LOVE to see the polling data that the Junta has. And, when I say polling data, I do not mean the garbage printed in the media showing that Prayut has 89.04% 'determination', I mean data regarding polling intentions.

 

If the PTB are willing to risk an arrest, it means one of two things. Either Thanathorn is pulling enough votes to significantly impact the election and must be stopped or the PTB simply do not care how bad things look; they will go to any length and use any means whatsoever to maintain power.

 

This does not bode well.

 

Sad, sad days for beloved Thailand...

Once opposition parties activities have been crushed...opposition leaders arrested or gone into hiding...one clear leader will emerge...????

59 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

the PTB simply do not care how bad things look

You can tell by the utter disdain from all in the junta/army that this is the case

Has the air of the Cambodian elections about it, if I can't win then I'll get the court to lock you all up

This is so ridiculous. Anyways, we know who will win. ????

41 minutes ago, Sticky Wicket said:

You can tell by the utter disdain from all in the junta/army that this is the case

I wonder... Yes of course it looks bad but could it be that they are so far up their own backsides, they don't realise it? It's quite the bubble these people live in, remember...

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai police said on Wednesday said they were seeking the prosecution of the leader of a new political party over a speech he made 

More than anything this reveals the new Thai reality

2 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

Once opposition parties activities have been crushed...opposition leaders arrested or gone into hiding...one clear leader will emerge...????

Democratically chosen of course...

Just more nonsense from the RTP, nothing to do with law and order, only to help protect  those in power, so that things continue as now.

Seems to me that the junta is setting the stage for civil unrest and possibly uprising... 

 

Hopefully it won't happen,and if it does, I hope that my wife, my two dogs and I will be in another country.

Thank god for people like this and students, worrying thing is why this guy not got more support .

Buck Banana and his army of democracy assassins need the will of the people to kick them to an election death.
Unfortunately the elite of the land are insane and only care for wealthy and lavish lifestyle .

Uncle Bucks fat sidekick needs a rolex kick right up his arse so far you can see the time when he opens his lying scum mouth ...

Edited February 21, 20197 yr by BuckBee

One would think that if you don't like / can't take criticism then you don't go into politics. 

 

 

The sad thing is its seems your average Thai can't see through all of this or just doesn't understand what has happened and continues to happen.... the place is never going to be the same again. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

will add to concern that the military is determined to retain a hold over politics, even after the return of civilian rule in the March 24 vote.

They would never do that, no way. 

#savethanathorn is trending on twitter since yesterday.

And #SaveThanathorn had a million tweets in support of Thanathorn and FFP - the anti Democrats must be very afraid of him.

 

This is already backfiring - Thais have enough of old corrupt thugs holding the country back.

With this knee jerk reaction they have just given Thanathorn and FFP a boost.

The orange heart is appearing all over Twitter and Facebook profiles.

 

But of course stupid old men do not understand that nobody is listening to their radio stations from last century or manipulated news on tv anymore.

There is a new symbol for freedom and progress.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

I frequently see striking similarities between a leader (who's name starts with "P") and another leader in another country (who's name stats with "T"). They both desire to be autocratic leaders, both love (and flaunt) their ability to use "special powers".

But relevant to this thread, they both take actions all too frequently that could come back to bite them in the butt. Actions without considering the opposite reaction.

Should Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit of the Future Forward Party be charged with a crime for speaking the truth, P may find that he is faced with a serious revolt by the groundswell of supporters that Thanathorn has attracted.

 

But then this may just be the "unrest" excuse that P is looking for to call off the election.

Showing that the long delay in which they made 'laws' to suit their wishes was always the game plan and that early elections were never intended. We now have the 'crimes' of criticism under the guise of false information, or sedition if they so wish. Making a constitution that furthered their purpose obviously wasn't enough, so the computer crimes act was added to tighten the noose. This desperate attempt to stay in power is as others have mentioned, in the style of Cambodia who "locked them up." 

Operation Turkey Thailand under way ???? 

not much of a connection between T and P.  one was elected through populist rhetoric the other simply seized power.. As for both wanting autocratic rule...what politiican doesnt? one elected to buck the establishment the other the face of establishment. better to compare T and Thaksin. 

8 minutes ago, neeray said:

I frequently see striking similarities between a leader (who's name starts with "P") and another leader in another country (who's name stats with "T"). They both desire to be autocratic leaders, both love (and flaunt) their ability to use "special powers".

But relevant to this thread, they both take actions all too frequently that could come back to bite them in the butt. Actions without considering the opposite reaction.

Should Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit of the Future Forward Party be charged with a crime for speaking the truth, P may find that he is faced with a serious revolt by the groundswell of supporters that Thanathorn has attracted.

 

But then this may just be the "unrest" excuse that P is looking for to call off the election.

not much of a connection between T and P.  one was elected through populist rhetoric the other simply seized power.. As for both wanting autocratic rule...what politiican doesnt? one elected to buck the establishment the other the face of establishment. better to compare T and Thaksin. 

The Junta and their Elite backers inch ever-closer to a Civil War, they must be nuts.

Just more nonsense from the RTP, nothing to do with law and order, only to help protect  those in power, so that things continue as now.

What can one expect from corrupt criminals pretending to uphold the law?


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

46 minutes ago, pattayadgw said:

The sad thing is its seems your average Thai can't see through all of this or just doesn't understand what has happened and continues to happen.... the place is never going to be the same again. 

I think an awful lot of Thais DO see through all of this and know fully well what is going on, and they don't like it.

 

The problem is: they are not (en masse) doing anything about it - not even in the smallest of ways (not even a symbolic protest, to show non-compliance). Now, we can legitimately argue over the reasons for this - is it lack of grit (although some Thais are immensely brave - look at the demonstrators outside the military base yesterday), or is it a very justified fear of horrific, homicidal violence being meted out against them? One can argue it both ways. The fact remains, however, that only the Thais can take their country back - no one else. It is up to them. I think there will be a few pockets of resisters later in the year - but the majority, the vast, vast majority - will sit on their hands. 

 

Edited February 21, 20197 yr by Eligius

5G is about mind control. Great for Fascist Military Regimes who oppose the Democratic will of the people.

 

https://youtu.be/oorI5WveYwA

That could backfire and tarnish the election commission if not stirs trouble on the streets????⚡????

14 minutes ago, ocddave said:

The Junta and their Elite backers inch ever-closer to a Civil War, they must be nuts.

Maybe they have assumed that they will win it, and emerge firmly on top for the foreseeable future. 

Posts in violation of the following have been removed:

 

Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed. Any posts which can be construed as rumor mongering are not allowed.

Posters violating these rules and the forum rules will receive a warning, a possible suspension of posting privileges or a ban from the site.

 

Read more here:

 

 

2 hours ago, JAG said:

Democratically chosen of course...

Well the voters don't really matter, the ones counting the vote slips however....