Pannika Wanich: Political death sentence snuffs out Thailand’s anti-establishment heroine

[snoop1130]

 

Last week’s Supreme Court ruling banning former MP Pannika Wanich from elections and political office for life has been criticized as political “capital punishment” by many observers.

 

Ending her political life was too harsh a penalty for the young politician to pay, they said. Even Pannika’s political enemy, Pareena Kraikupt, showed sympathy, saying that she disagreed with the lifetime ban.

 

“If politicians commit wrongdoing, legal action is taken against them under criminal or civil law. They get fined or jailed. But they should not be deprived of their rights in the name of ethics,” Pareena said.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-09-25

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[bannork]

The establishment really know how to shoot themselves in the foot.

How to create sympathy all round for an intelligent young woman.

And it won't stop her. She's been banned already for three years from holding political office, yet she's playing a prominent role in the Progressive Movement, as Thanathorn is too. 

[hotchilli]

They can ban her but cannot silence her.... at least I hope they won't go that far.

[JimHuaHin]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

They can ban her but cannot silence her.... at least I hope they won't go that far.

Unfortunately, Thailand has a long history of outspoken anti-establishment people meeting premature death.

[bradiston]

Seems the best and brightest are doomed to fail in this haven of mediocrity. Pita, Thanathorn and now Pannika. Overseas educated at amongst the top educational establishments in the world., the royalist establishment perceives them as am immediate threat. The non English speaking majority dunces that populate Thai government departments aren't fit for purpose. As usual BS baffles brains in the land of the buffalo.

[HandsomeTallFarang]

7 minutes ago, bradiston said:

Seems the best and brightest are doomed to fail in this haven of mediocrity. Pita, Thanathorn and now Pannika. Overseas educated at amongst the top educational establishments in the world., the royalist establishment perceives them as am immediate threat. The non English speaking majority dunces that populate Thai government departments aren't fit for purpose. As usual BS baffles brains in the land of the buffalo.

If there wasn't cheap and easy women everywhere, nobody would come here.

[RichardColeman]

Considering there is a well known person in hospital/prison now that will go on to be government adviser, I think this is very harsh 

[newnative]

Terrible, shameless ruling.

[brianthainess]

Oh if only we weren't gagged.  

[bradiston]

5 hours ago, HandsomeTallFarang said:

If there wasn't cheap and easy women everywhere, nobody would come here.

Explain

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Thaksin and others did a lot worse than her... Where's their lifetime political bans from the court???

 

" Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's alleged lèse-majesté was one of the stated reasons for the Thai military's 2006 coup.^{[24][25][26]"}