Axe hangs over Thailand’s reform movement as Move Forward faces judgment day

[webfact]

 

After witnessing its figurehead, Pita Limjaroenrat, cleared in his media shareholding case last week, the opposition-leading Move Forward Party will be keeping its fingers crossed as the Constitutional Court prepares to issue another verdict on Wednesday.

 

While the court has not been asked to decide whether the reformist party should be disbanded, Wednesday’s ruling could support subsequent legal efforts to dissolve Move Forward.

 

The case stems from a petition by lawyer Theerayut Suwankesorn, who in July last year accused the party and its then-leader Pita of seeking to overthrow Thailand’s constitutional monarchy. Theerayut asked the Constitutional Court to issue an order putting an end to the alleged acts.

 

He claims that Move Forward’s policy to amend the lese majeste law violates Article 49 of the Constitution, which states that: “No person shall exercise rights or liberties to overthrow the democratic regime of government with the King as head of state.”

 

The clause also states that any person who learns of such an act can call on the attorney-general to request a Constitutional Court order to halt the infringement. If the attorney-general rejects or fails to act on the petition within 15 days, the petitioner can take the complaint directly to the Constitutional Court.

 

Theerayut took the matter to court after petitioning the attorney-general in May but getting no answer for 15 days.

 

By Thai PBS World’s Political Desk

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-01-30

 

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[StayinThailand2much]

"Axe hangs over Thailand’s reform movement as Move Forward faces judgment day"

 

Who else thinks that they might get 'terminated'?

[keith101]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

The case stems from a petition by lawyer Theerayut Suwankesorn

Does he work for an opposition party ?

[ikke1959]

I can not imagine that amendment of section 112 to prevent abuse of this article has anything to do with overthrowing the monarchy. And besides that in the past there was an amendment already of the same article... but maybe the army rewrote it secretly in their new constitution to use it as they want 

[bamnutsak]

There was a time...

 

Prayut said HM King told him not to use lese majeste laws against civilians; opposition calls for its abolishing

 

King Vajiralongkorn has instructed the Thai government not to use Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, or the lèse-majesté law, to prosecute civilians, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said on Monday.

 

“You can see that today that we have not been using 112 at all.” he told reporters on Monday, “You know why? It was because the King was kind enough to instruct that it should not be used.”

 

https://www.thaienquirer.com/14457/prayut-said-hm-king-told-him-not-to-use-lese-majeste-laws-against-civilians-opposition-calls-for-its-abolishing/

[GarryP]

I just do not see any logic in his argument. Amending laws is normal, and amendment of that particular law does not constitute an attempt to overthrow the gov't and the bloke on top. After amendment, the gov't would still be there and so would that bloke. They should check whether the complainant has the mental capacity needed to be a lawyer and, if not, revoke his license. 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

"Axe hangs over Thailand’s reform movement as Move Forward faces judgment day"

 

Who else thinks that they might get 'terminated'?

Not me...

[Bangkok Barry]

 

Overthrow is not the same as reform. Someone give Theerayut Suwankesorn a dictionary.

 

[Will B Good]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Theerayut Suwankesorn

Theerayut Sirwanksome needs to do one

[jippytum]

Never ending attempts by the military controlled senate and the Shiniwatra influence to limit the success of Pita and the MFP that won the election. 

If not for unfounded objections Pita would be prime minister instead of a Shiniwatra puppet. 

[newnative]

      Ridiculous lawsuit, should have been rejected from the get-go.   How can a party or a candidate be prohibited from making any changes to government and laws?  Or even just debating the issue?   Ludicrous.   If the party is disbanded, just start another, like they did before.  Move Future Forward.  Future Forward Moving.  Future Moving Forward.  Just keep doing it.  The public, especially, the young, will follow you whatever the name of the party is.  

[proton]

5 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

There was a time...

 

Prayut said HM King told him not to use lese majeste laws against civilians; opposition calls for its abolishing

 

King Vajiralongkorn has instructed the Thai government not to use Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, or the lèse-majesté law, to prosecute civilians, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said on Monday.

 

“You can see that today that we have not been using 112 at all.” he told reporters on Monday, “You know why? It was because the King was kind enough to instruct that it should not be used.”

 

https://www.thaienquirer.com/14457/prayut-said-hm-king-told-him-not-to-use-lese-majeste-laws-against-civilians-opposition-calls-for-its-abolishing/

 

Pretty sure a Thai man was recently sentenced to 50 years in prison charged under 112, how did that happen if 'we have not been using 112 at all' ?

[bamnutsak]

1 hour ago, proton said:

 

Pretty sure a Thai man was recently sentenced to 50 years in prison charged under 112, how did that happen if 'we have not been using 112 at all' ?

 

AFAIK, the moratorium instigated by HM King and Prayuth was short-lived, and rescinded some four months later, when protests started hotting up.

 

Prayuth's words were revealing though...

 

“You can see that today that we have not been using 112 at all.” he told reporters on Monday, “You know why? It was because the King was kind enough to instruct that it should not be used.”

 

 

In that they "use" 112 as a cudgel, you know, to defend themselves against a 15-year-old young woman holding up three fingers.

 

 

[scorecard]

7 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I can not imagine that amendment of section 112 to prevent abuse of this article has anything to do with overthrowing the monarchy. And besides that in the past there was an amendment already of the same article... but maybe the army rewrote it secretly in their new constitution to use it as they want 

Point taken however there's folks in the high levels who can and will easily remake the comments into something different. And nobody would dare stop them. 

[Gknrd]

"No person shall exercise rights or liberties to overthrow the democratic regime of government "

 

Joke of the day

[bannork]

8 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

"Axe hangs over Thailand’s reform movement as Move Forward faces judgment day"

 

Who else thinks that they might get 'terminated'?

'They'll be back.'

[Artisi]

14 hours ago, bannork said:

'They'll be back.'

let's hope they don't need to come back. 

[Poseidon]

What they are saying is government can't change, amend or create new laws now. Only in Thailand does that sound remotely sensible