Thai court dissolves opposition party critical of military rule

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thai court dissolves opposition party critical of military rule

By Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat

 

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit of Thailand's progressive Future Forward Party talks to his supporters during an unauthorised flash mob rally in Bangkok, Thailand December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

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

 

The dissolution of the Future Forward Party comes less than a year after Thailand held a general election to end five years of military rule and it strengthens the position in parliament of a coalition led by Prime Minister Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former junta leader who first took power in a 2014 coup.

 

Future Forward, led by auto-parts billionaire heir Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, 41, has been sharply critical of military dominance of politics. It surprised many by coming third in the elections last year, winning the support of many young people and 81 of the 500 seats contested in parliament.

 

The court ruled that the party broke the law by taking a 191.2 million baht ($6.08 million) loan from Thanathorn.

"The party is ordered to be dissolved according to the 2017 political party law," Constitutional Court Judge Panya Utchachon said in his ruling.

 

The court also banned Thanathorn and 15 other party executives from politics for 10 years.

 

The party and Thanathorn have denied any wrongdoing

 

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.

 

Some Future Forward supporters at the party's headquarters burst into tears when the court's decision was announced.

"I’m a bit loss at the moment. If Thanathorn decides to continue the fight, we will stick with him. We won't let him fight alone,” said Wanna Butrkan, 55, from Udon Thani province in the northeast.

 

Thanathorn, who was not in court, was due to speak to supporters later in the day.

 

'NO ONE FOOLED'

 

Human rights groups and democracy advocates condemned the court's decision.

 

"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.

 

The court on Friday said the loan to the party amounted to a donation because it did not follow commercial practices in lending. The election law limits donations from an individual to 10 million baht ($318,167).

 

Thanathorn said the financial arrangements between himself and the party were above board.

 

"If we could turn back time ... we would do the same thing because it was transparent and verifiable," he said in a Facebook post this week.

 

It was not the first legal case that Thanathorn and his party have faced since bursting onto the political scene.

 

Last month, the Constitutional Court rejected accusations the party sought to overthrow the monarchy, an allegation that could have seen it banned.

 

Late last year, Thanathorn was suspended from parliament by another court ruling that found he breached election law after he was accused of holding shares in a media company when he registered as a candidate. He said he sold the shares before registering.

 

While Future Forward and its allies say the political system has been engineered to ensure rule by Prayuth's pro-army party, the prime minister says a constitution drawn up during military rule is necessary to ensure stability after years of chaos and occasional violence.

 

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

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-22

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[Jonathan Fairfield]

Explainer - What's next in Thai politics after opposition party banned?

 

Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit gives a speech, at the party's headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand February 21, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai court on Friday dissolved a high-profile opposition political party, the Future Forward Party, ruling that it illegally took a 191.2 million baht ($6.04 million) loan from its billionaire leader.

 

The court also banned party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, heir to an auto parts fortune and 15 other party executive board members from politics for 10 years. The party and Thanathorn have denied any wrongdoing.

 

The ruling strengthened the slim parliamentary majority of the ruling coalition under former junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha, who seized power from an elected government in 2014 and retained office last year when his pro-army party won elections.

 

WHAT HAPPENS TO FUTURE FORWARD'S LAWMAKERS?

 

Future Forward, which came in third in the general election last March, currently holds 76 seats of the 500 seats contested in parliament.

 

At least 65 Future Forward lawmakers can now join another political party or form a new party under electoral law.

 

But 11 seats held by the banned executives, including Thanathorn, will remain vacant until the next election. That represents a net gain for Prayuth's ruling coalition.

 

WILL THERE BE STREET PROTESTS?

 

So far, there is no sign of the kinds of mass political demonstrations by rival parties that paralysed the Thai capital Bangkok in past decades until the latest military coup in 2014.

 

Thanathorn, 41, said he wanted to break with that cycle when he founded Future Forward in 2018.

 

Last year he also rejected the idea of protests against the election results, which Future Forward and its allied opposition parties said were manipulated in favour of Prayuth's party.

 

HAS THAILAND BANNED PARTIES BEFORE?

 

Yes. In 2007, following a 2006 military coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Constitutional Court dissolved the Thai Rak Thai party that he had founded.

 

In 2008, the court dissolved another pro-Thaksin political party, the People's Power Party, and two of its coalition partners that had won a post-coup election earlier that year.

 

Thaksin's mostly rural supporters responded by paralysing areas of Bangkok's business district in prolonged mass protests in 2010, ending in a military crackdown in which 90 people were killed and thousands were wounded.

 

Ahead of last year's general election, the court dissolved Thai Raksa Chart, another Thaksin-backed party.

 

Future Forward is separate from but allied with the remaining pro-Thaksin opposition party in parliament, Pheu Thai, which came in second in the 2019 election.

 

WHAT'S NEXT?

 

For now, Future Forward's remaining members of parliament will work with their Pheu Thai allies and other opposition parties in parliament, Thanathorn said on Friday night.

 

The opposition has been planning a censure motion against Prime Minister Prayuth and key members of his cabinet and aim to at least subject them to public debate.

 

However, the loss of 11 Future Forward seats to the court ruling brings Prayuth's coalition majority - which at times has been as slim as one or two seats - to a relatively comfortable margin of more than a dozen votes.

 

Thanathorn said on Friday night he plans to start a foundation for education and a committee to campaign for political reform.

 

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Frances Kerry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-22

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[Tayaout]

What a grave mistake... At least they could claim democracy before this. My wife voted for him and is in shock to say it politely. 

Edited February 21, 2020 by Tayaout

[cornishcarlos]

18 minutes ago, Tayaout said:

My wife voted for him and is in shock to say it politely. 

 

Mine too and sadly, like a great deal of Thais, isn't really bothered by any of these developments !!!

[Puchaiyank]

The future of Thailand could become filled with fear and violence...anarchy and civilian casualities...

 

Stay vigilant and keep a low profile until this thing plays itself out in the arena of public confrontation and opinion...

[GinBoy2]

My wife simply shrugged her shoulders and said

 

"Anyone that didn't see this coming was blind"

 

She would have voted for FF, but overseas voting for Thai's requires you visit an embassy or consulate. Her view was paying for a flight to a consulate to participate in a forgone conclusion was flushing money down the toilet

Edited February 21, 2020 by GinBoy2

[Creasy]

Same same, but different.  'Democracy' in Thailand????

[steven100]

Thank you, justice has prevailed again. Kinda reminds me of the Australian guy, Clive Palmers united party, nothing but trouble and a waste of millions of dollars.

 

[NanLaew]

6 minutes ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

Mine too and sadly, like a great deal of Thais, isn't really bothered by any of these developments !!!

Oh, I think they're bothered alright. What we're probably witnessing is a national collective of slumped shoulders and the quiet exhalation of resignation that follows this 'more of the same' edict. I mean was anyone surprised by this ruling?

 

Only yesterday, the DPM said that Future Forward would have to obey the ruling "whatever that ruling may be." Think about it, if the Court ruling had been any different, the DPM could be mistaken for suggesting that they can carry on with their openly anti-army stance and keep giving the younger Thai demographic a reason to believe that their voices and their lives mattered. It's not just about keeping the rice farmers onside any more.

[Assurancetourix]

54 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

"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.

In France we say : " Les promesses n'engagent que ceux qui y croient "

" Promises are only binding on those who believe in them "

 

Look at what is happening in all the single-regime countries that are often military juntas; the opposition parties are still very few and their leaders chase, imprison, torture; intimidation and crime are the rule.
Thailand which has never been a democracy even if some political parties might let it believe is no exception to this rule.
I would also like the members of this forum who are American to introspect vis-à-vis the foreign policy of their country.
The brothel , casino is a better word , existing in all these non-democratic countries (Africa, SE Asia and Central and South America, which are generally held by an iron fist in an iron glove, has always been created by the devil: the CIA and its associates.
If the Thai generals are almost all billionaires and if the Thai army has always been the real master of Thai politics it is thanks to the billions of the USA and mainly of the CIA, the NSA and other units of which I do not know not even the name ..
Things are changing because it is China politically opposite the USA which is taking the upper hand in SE Asia;
it has already almost colonized Cambodia and Laos;
Thailand will follow, inexorably.
When Xi, who is the real master of the world, decides that it is time for Thailand to become a new Chinese province, no Thai military or Steven100 can prevent it.
what Thanatorn cannot do, Xi will do, although he is far from being his friend.

In the meantime, whatever the friends of the junta who attend this forum think, the weeks and months that come are likely to be tumultuous.

Edited February 22, 2020 by Assurancetourix

[Assurancetourix]

11 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Thank you, justice has prevailed again

You call it justice!
You are kidding us!
There is never justice in a military regime; the only law that matters to them is force, intimidation, rape, beatings, death ...

[ChipButty]

Can they appeal against the verdict?

[DannyCarlton]

30 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

The future of Thailand could become filled with fear and violence...anarchy and civilian casualities...

 

Stay vigilant and keep a low profile until this thing plays itself out in the arena of public confrontation and opinion...

Living on the Darkside, in Pattaya, I will be watching from the bleachers, beer in hand and not a care in the world. I've no doubt that it won't affect me in any way.

[graemeaylward]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

But 11 seats held by the banned executives, including Thanathorn, will remain vacant until the next election. That represents a net gain for Prayuth's ruling coalition.

Why? Didn't they hold a bi-election after a Khon Kaen MP was banned because he was imprisoned for murder? So there will now be 11 constituencies left without an MP! What a complete shambles. Clearly we still live under a military dictatorship and democracy is still a long way off. What happened to all those ruling party MPs who owned media shares. Have their cases been heard yet? 

Edited February 22, 2020 by graemeaylward
Spelling

[GalaxyMan]

Well, this certainly puts to bed any illusions that Thailand is any kind of a democracy. Thailand has a PM who is so afraid of the people that he has to live on a military base for reasons of security. Now he shows that he's so afraid of the people that he will not allow any organized political opposition to his misrule. Since young people are the largest demographic and they are growing increasingly aware of the political situation and their lack of freedom from ongoing oppression, this will only spur them on to more political participation. It's only a matter of time before they either succeed or are massacred by the military to protect its 'benevolent rule'. ????

[mikebell]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

critical of the military establishment

That's the real crime - not the nonsense about loans.  Criminal records are supposed to disbar you from Thai politics unless you are connected so drug charges are exempt.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies about France and UK have been removed. 

[geriatrickid]

They have banned an intelligent, well educated, wealthy, photogenic, dynamic, charismatic handsome young man who will fit the role of martyr quite nicely.

 

The military regime  picked the wrong guy. He is of the  urban hiso demographic that will not accept  being bullied by  thugs. This is not over.

[JAG]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

Thank you, justice has prevailed again. Kinda reminds me of the Australian guy, Clive Palmers united party, nothing but trouble and a waste of millions of dollars.

 

Can you see much of the world then - trying to view it through his tonsils?

[izod10]

Same happening in Europe,dictated to who the people should vote for.   If the so called far right put up a candidate ,a candidate who is voted in then disquaulified,it does stink

[paddypower]

this aint over, is it?  The future belongs to the youth of Thailand. Since markets hate uncertainty, I suspect that this will start a decline in the Baht? If so, it will not matter to most expats, other than you will see an inprovement in the FX rate for your home currency.

[Denim]

If a new party is formed to accommodate the disenfranchised FF party MP's it will attract a much bigger percentage of the public vote should there ever be another election. 

 

The probability of there ever being a fair election again has therefore diminished.

 

If the economy continues to suffer to such an extent that those who once flocked to Sutheps banner also start to feel the financial pinch, then it will fall to their children to spill the blood it will take to remove this odious junta.

 

Their previous folly will come at a high price for some.

[rkidlad]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

Thank you, justice has prevailed again. Kinda reminds me of the Australian guy, Clive Palmers united party, nothing but trouble and a waste of millions of dollars.

 

Prayut is just a puppet, Steven. Do you really think he has any power? He will be used until his expiration date and kicked to the curb. Then you’ll have another puppet to drool over. 
 

How’s the economy by the way? Still being steered in the right direction as you quoted many times before? 

[DannyCarlton]

1 minute ago, rkidlad said:

Prayut is just a puppet, Steven. Do you really think he has any power? He will be used until his expiration date and kicked to the curb. Then you’ll have another puppet to drool over. 

Prayut changed sides last October. He's now hoping to be the puppet of the new kid on the block.

[colinneil]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

Thank you, justice has prevailed again. Kinda reminds me of the Australian guy, Clive Palmers united party, nothing but trouble and a waste of millions of dollars.

 

There is non so blind, as them that cannot see.

[rooster59]

Court sees Future Forward loans as ‘donations’, total amount excessive

By The Nation

 

 

The Constitutional Court on Friday (February 21) ordered the Future Forward Party dissolved because of the Bt191.2 million worth of loans that its wealthy leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit extended to party members.

 

 

The court concurred with the Election Commission and said its complaint was correctly filed after a due period of consideration.

 

It said party members who received a loan were in effect accepting donations or benefits, in violation of Section 72 of the Organic Act on Political Parties.

 

It also found Future Forward in violation of Section 62, which sets out the legal means by which political parties can obtain money. 

 

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit watches the court’s verdict read on TV at party headquarters.

 

Even if a loan does not represent income per se, the court ruled, it is political revenue, and Thanathorn attached conditions and an interest rate, as is not common with regular loans sought and granted for commercial purposes.

 

Both Sections 66 and 72 also prohibit monetary contributions that exceed Bt10 million per year in total, the court noted. Thanathorn’s loans combined went far above that.

The court found the party guilty as charged and ordered it disbanded in accordance with Section 92 of the same legislation.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30382577

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-02-22

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[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Can they appeal against the verdict?

Yes, I believe a committee to set up a committee for the judgement of the appeal is currently being set up

[Canuck1966]

I hope the country sinks to depths never seen before.

It's the only way to get this apathetic nation to rise against these odious, despicable characters.

 

[spiekerjozef]

Silenced...

[keith101]

Thai court dissolves opposition party critical of military rule .

Is this the main reason because 191 million baht given to a political party doesn't seem excessive to me IMO .