The Move Forward Party has not abandoned its endeavor to have the lese majeste law amended but its spokesman admitted that it will have to work within the bounds set by the Constitutional Court which last week ruled that it constituted an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.

 

Speaking to Thai PBS World in an interview on Monday, Move Forward Spokesman Parit Wacharasindhu said the court ruling has far-reaching ramifications on Thailand’s democracy.

 

“I think what immediately struck us was that this ruling is not only going to have implications on the short-term fate of Move Forward Party and its MPs, but it might have a more sustained or long-term effect or set of implications on the status and health as well as direction of Thailand’s democracy and Thailand’s political system,” he said.

 

PICTURE: Move Forward Party’s Spokesman Parit Wacharasindhu speaking to Thepchai Yong in an interview for “Talking Politics” programme on Monday.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-02-07

 

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Parit refuted charges that the Move Forward’s advocacy for Article 112 to be amended was tantamount to an attempt to overthrow the country’s democratic system with the King as the head of state as ruled by the court.

This deserves a round of applause for courage. I cannot however see the Senate allowing this to come to pass.

Courage? Yes.

 

Wisdom? Mmmm.

 

If you want to do certain things - like modernize Thailand - you have to get in to power democratically, have longterm handle on power, appoint - over time - new people to assorted statutory functions, then and only then strike hard & fast. In other words, act like the army but democratically.

 

Not exactly easy to achieve.

Move Forward shows again that they want reform the country to a " normal" country instead of army based one. Yes courage and wisdom and vision. How are  we in need of  these people

40 minutes ago, retarius said:

This deserves a round of applause for courage. I cannot however see the Senate allowing this to come to pass.

 

Present senators were not voted in but placed there by Prawit, Prayuth and all the other army cronies. Let's see what happens during this year's election of the senate ..... 

Any law that ends with a 50 year jail sentence for having an opinion obviously needs reform.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The Move Forward Party has not abandoned its endeavor to have the lese majeste law amended but its spokesman admitted that it will have to work within the bounds set by the Constitutional Court which last week ruled that it constituted an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.

They want to amend the rules to bring it into the modern era, not overthrow the monarchy.

9 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

They want to amend the rules to bring it into the modern era, not overthrow the monarchy.

But in Thailand - by the usual authoritarian logic - to do the one is to do the other.

It might be beneficial to Thai electorate for sake of political education that MFP present and discuss how the many constitutional monarchies in the world such as Japan and Sweden that have operated for decades without major constitutional crises. 

 

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

They want to amend the rules to bring it into the modern era, not overthrow the monarchy.

Which would almost be impossible, in this scenario, without dissolving the ruling monarchical system - as the whole of this particular parliamentary democratic practice is highly dependent on the whims of the singular ruling classes......which of course contradicts and collides with anything that proposes to be free, open and democratic. 

 

Perhaps, the wish to not overthrow the monarchy per se, but to engage a figurehead approach without this class involved in the everyday practice and mechanics of the state. This should be acceptable by the people. 

 

The ideals of a Constitutional Monarchy is basically antithetical to any free practice of democracy. 

2 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

 

Present senators were not voted in but placed there by Prawit, Prayuth and all the other army cronies. Let's see what happens during this year's election of the senate ..... 

.....and we have easily forgotten that the greater percentage of this current and standing crop were not elected, but appointed by proxy. We have seemed to have dismissed the bigger picture. Why bother with elections when they continue to practice their usual skullduggery of banning individuals and political parties from participating - remembering that all of these underhanded and nefarious activities have approval and blessing from particular circles. 

 

The crux that no one wants to address.

7 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

The ideals of a Constitutional Monarchy is basically antithetical to any free practice of democracy. 

Um, how did you reach that conclusion? UK? Sweden? Denmark? Norway? Holland? Belgium? ...

I have a feeling if this Move Forward party gets into power it will be very bad for most of us so called falangs in the long run. I predict taxes, taxes and more taxes, increasing regulation, p2p scene outlawed over time etc. all this of course to make Thailand more "equal and progressive".

 

I hope I'm wrong but they call themselves social democratic. That has been one of the leading political movements in my home country since ww2. I get a little puke in my mouth when I hear those words. They drain all fun out of a country and make citizens slaves in a golden cage with their high taxes and overreach.

17 minutes ago, Antti said:

I have a feeling if this Move Forward party gets into power it will be very bad for most of us so called falangs in the long run. I predict taxes, taxes and more taxes, increasing regulation, p2p scene outlawed over time etc. all this of course to make Thailand more "equal and progressive".

 

I hope I'm wrong but they call themselves social democratic. That has been one of the leading political movements in my home country since ww2. I get a little puke in my mouth when I hear those words. They drain all fun out of a country and make citizens slaves in a golden cage with their high taxes and overreach.

I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Social democracy in Thailand is at least quarter of a century away, quite likely more.

4 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Social democracy.....

Uh-huh.

Whatever that is.....

4 hours ago, retarius said:

This deserves a round of applause for courage. I cannot however see the Senate allowing this to come to pass.

The unelected senators are out of work come March as there term in office comes to an end 

 All power to Move Forward. It's refreshing to see some Thais prepared to stick their necks out to bring Thailand into the 21st Century. Not long now until the unelected senators are shown the door.

1 hour ago, Brian Hull said:

 All power to Move Forward. It's refreshing to see some Thais prepared to stick their necks out to bring Thailand into the 21st Century. Not long now until the unelected senators are shown the door.

Yes, but what follows as the current Senate departs? Noone ever talks about that.

 

I'm unclear on what the process is ... already all sown up by the dinosaurs?

Edited February 7, 20242 yr by mfd101

Alas the majority of voters voted for the party that has the majority of seats, however, Thailand is a dictatorship by a minority elite and the will of the people through a democratic process will never come to fruition as long as the ruling elite maintain the power of the Senate and the courts. One cannot truly use the term democracy in reference to Thailand. Bit like the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Anything but a democracy.

Edited February 7, 20242 yr by dinsdale

Good. Keep at it.