Disbanding Move Forward Could Endanger Thailand’s Bid for UNHRC Membership

[webfact]

 

The Constitutional Court has been warned that Thailand’s third bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for 2025-27, slated for October, could be in jeopardy if it decides to dissolve the opposition Move Forward party on August 7th.

 

This warning comes from Chamnan Chanruang, a core member of the Progressive movement, led by former Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. Chamnan pointed out that Thailand is also set to host the 6th symposium of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions (AACC) in Bangkok from September 17th to 21st.

 

The event will see presidents of charter courts and equivalent institutions from 19 countries participating, raising questions over how the Thai Constitutional Court president would justify such a decision to his counterparts, reported Thai PBS.

 

Thailand’s previous attempt to secure a UNHRC seat failed due to the diplomatic fallout from the 2014 coup and subsequent increases in human rights violations, including the misuse of the lèse majesté law to target political opponents. Chamnan suggested that dissolving the Move Forward party could hinder Thailand's current bid.

 

He mentioned a possibility that the Constitutional Court may spare Move Forward by rejecting the Election Commission’s (EC) petition demanding the party’s dissolution on procedural grounds. The EC’s failure to follow proper submission protocols could lead the court to drop the petition. However, Chamnan pointed out that, even if dismissed, the petition could be resubmitted after correcting the procedural faults.

 

Notably, the Move Forward party and its former leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, have already been ordered to cease all activities related to amending the lèse majesté law in a January ruling. If the court opts to dissolve the party, Chamnan asserted that its members and MPs would join a new party, which would not be bound by the court’s earlier ruling. This new entity would continue the campaign for amendments to the controversial law.

 

Thailand’s international standing and its bid for a UNHRC seat thus hang in the balance as the Constitutional Court's decision looms.

 

File photo courtesy: Thai PBS

 

-- 2024-08-05

 

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[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The Constitutional Court has been warned that Thailand’s third bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for 2025-27, slated for October, could be in jeopardy if it decides to dissolve the opposition Move Forward party on August 7th.

Pressure form outside is growing steadily, if Thailand wants to join the west it has to start cleaning up it's act.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Notably, the Move Forward party and its former leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, have already been ordered to cease all activities related to amending the lèse majesté law in a January ruling.

Ordered.. democracy my ar$e

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

could be in jeopardy if it decides to dissolve the opposition Move Forward party

Regardless of action on MFP, the Thai HRC continues since the 2014 military coup to lose its UN accreditation due to crippling the THRC from government independence. Fundamental laws and government oversight put into place by the 2014 junta and Prayut government must be changed to the extent that the THRC can freely report on Thailand human rights behavior without recrimination and censorship by the government. 

Disbanding the MFP would just add "insult to injury" to the THRC ability to function. Not disbanding MFP will have no positive affect regarding THRC reaccrediation.

[nobodysfriend]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s third bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for 2025-27, slated for October, could be in jeopardy if it decides to dissolve the opposition Move Forward party on August 7th.

 

This warning comes from Chamnan Chanruang, a core member of the Progressive movement

 

I don't think that they give much importance to becoming a member of the Human Right's Council .

May be some will think that it could harm Thailand's sacred reputation a bit ...

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

If the court opts to dissolve the party, Chamnan asserted that its members and MPs would join a new party, which would not be bound by the court’s earlier ruling. This new entity would continue the campaign for amendments to the controversial law.

 

Of course . That's the way to go ... only a pity that the leaders of MFP will probably be banned from politics for some years ...

But new leaders will emerge , the current leaders will become counselors , and the problem for the current rulers will persist , at least until the next coup .

 

[Suua]

8 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

only a pity that the leaders of MFP will probably be banned from politics for some years ...

Only until the MFP are elected at the next election.

They can then use that piece of paper to wipe away the mornings visit to the loo.....then back to governing the country with all the side-lined academics involved.

[jayboy]

https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/current-members

 

By my count at least 15 current members have worse human rights records than Thailand.The Move Forward party should not be banned (actually it should be in power) but I don't see the argument in linking the issue to the UNHRC.

[brianthainess]

16 minutes ago, jayboy said:

I don't see the argument in linking the issue to the UNHRC.

The argument is using LM to stop political opponents, who are stopped from having freedom of speech, by just stating the LM laws should be changed just a bit.

And 15yr sentencing in a closed court, just for criticizing 'Him' is just wrong and against human rights.  

[john donson]

lol, basic human rights, like the right to a place to live (own house) and work (thai only jobs)

 

[zyphodb]

49 minutes ago, jayboy said:

https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/current-members

 

By my count at least 15 current members have worse human rights records than Thailand.The Move Forward party should not be banned (actually it should be in power) but I don't see the argument in linking the issue to the UNHRC.

 

Yep, just looked at that list, some really dodgy countries on it...

[zyphodb]

Just now, zyphodb said:

 

Yep, just looked at that list, some really dodgy countries on it...

 

  Thailand would fit in quite nicely 555

[cncltd1973]

do the Thai really care about democracy? they don't know the difference, they are hardly existing where I'm staying,  they spend their days wondering about food and superstition

[John Drake]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

if Thailand wants to join the west it has to start cleaning up it's act.

 

It doesn't.

[Pouatchee]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Pressure form outside is growing steadily, if Thailand wants to join the west it has to start cleaning up it's act.

 

which does it want to join? china or the west? the answer my friend is blowing in the wind...

[spidermike007]

Thailand represents itself as a democracy to the world, yet it steals elections on a consistent basis when the elite and the top powers do not like the result. This is not the way a democracy works.

 

Kudos to the American senator for calling out Thailand on their nonsense, more nations need to call out Thailand for their misbehavior, as shame and humiliation seem to be one of the few things here that really works, when it comes to change and reform.

 

If they had a conscience, which they don't, the leaders here would be ashamed of themselves. 

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, Pouatchee said:

 

which does it want to join? china or the west? the answer my friend is blowing in the wind...

An ill wind.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

It doesn't.

The west does seem to be watching, if the opposition party is dissolved then good luck to Thailand during future trade talks.

[User One]

The UN has long lost its authority. This is a useless organization.

[Peabody]

6 hours ago, User One said:

The UN has long lost its authority. This is a useless organization.

Yeah, the humanitarian aid they provide in disasters and war zones is totally useless.

[newnative]

Could endanger?  As well it should.

[Aussie999]

A few weeks ago, I was hounded by some, on here, because I mention Thailand was in breach of UN Article 19, well guys, this from the above article, backs my comment.
"Thailand’s previous attempt to secure a UNHRC seat failed due to the diplomatic fallout from the 2014 coup and subsequent increases in human rights violations, including the misuse of the lèse majesté law to target political opponents. Chamnan suggested that dissolving the Move Forward party could hinder Thailand's current bid." I await an apology, thoughj I won't get one... more like I'll be again hounded.

[User One]

On 8/5/2024 at 5:59 PM, Peabody said:

Yeah, the humanitarian aid they provide in disasters and war zones is totally useless.

Oh really? 🤦‍♂️ How much of humanitarian aid has the UN given to Thais affected by the recent floods? I didn't see this news here

[Gknrd]

Thailand political party is a joke. No one takes them seriously. 

[Dario]

Well, apparently the Move Forward party has been disbanded and its members banned from political activities for 10 (ten) years. I'm completely speechless.

 

[Peabody]

5 hours ago, User One said:

Oh really? 🤦‍♂️ How much of humanitarian aid has the UN given to Thais affected by the recent floods? I didn't see this news here

15.9 million USD in general humanitarian aid in 2021. I don't have later figures.

Any other questions? I assume you don't know how to use Google.

[MikeandDow]

Thailand has lost face by this decision  The world is watching