Thai court dissolves anti-military Future Forward Get together over election loan
22 February, 2020
Thailand's Constitutional Courtroom ruled on Friday (Feb 21) to dissolve opposition Future Forward Party more than an election bank loan from its innovator Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit to financing its political campaign.
The verdict came following the Election Commission filed a court case alleging the party violated Section 72 of the 2017 Political Party Organic Law.
The section prohibits political parties or individuals keeping a position in virtually any political party from acquiring donated money, assets or other benefits with financial value when they know or are expected to know it was acquired illegally, or suspect it had been obtained from an against the law source.
The allegation came after the party accepted a 191 million baht (US$6 million) mortgage from its leader Thanathorn to fund its election campaign ahead of the general election on Mar 24 this past year, which concluded with a victory for pro-military party Palang Pracharat.
In line with the verdict, 16 executive members of the Future Forward Party have already been banned right from political activities over the next 10 years, beginning with Feb 21. They can not run in potential elections, register a fresh political party or be a part of any new political party until 2030.
The damaged members include party founder and head Thanathorn and co-founder Piyabutr Saengkanokkul.
"TOO EARLY TO CRY"
"I and Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit will continue our political marketing campaign across Thailand without feeling tired. This is simply not the finish. It's just the start because we're monsters made by time to haunt persons from the old period and old thoughts," explained Piyabutr on Friday.
"The Future Forward Party has come to a finish," said Thanathorn, adding "it isn't time to be sorry and it's really too early to cry".
He also vowed the party could be dissolved but its persons can't be destroyed. He said he will create a foundation to keep his work and give attention to localized politics. "Let's walk alongside one another," he added.
The Friday court verdict has taken down the amount of Future Forward Party MPs from 76 to 65. The rest of the MPs have to discover a new political get together within 60 days after their party’s dissolution.
However, party leader Thanathorn expressed self-assurance they might continue the party's ideology.
"I really believe our remaining MPs will continue the Future Forward Party's plans, and that their fire will never be released," he said.
Founded two years ago, the Future Forward Party emerged third in the 2019 basic election, which it claimed was manipulated to favour the Palang Pracharat Party, which pushed General Prayut Chan-o-cha to be Thailand's current prime minister.
General Prayut led a armed service coup to topple the democratically elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra in 2014.
Following the party's dissolution, General Prayut urged the general public to respect the court's verdict.
"In democracy, political celebrations are an organisation that is imperative to the country's administration, whether they are ruling or perhaps opposition parties. Political get-togethers have the duty of connecting the necessity between your public and the state. I'd like to inspire you to value the court's verdict," he tweeted.
"I believe people who voted for the Future Forward Party will have the ability to look for other mechanisms to examine the government's work."
"POLITICALLY MOTIVATED"
The Friday dissolution into the future Forward Party came days before a no-confidence debate against six Cabinet ministers, including General Prayut.
The court ruling has drawn criticisms from several rights activists in Thailand.
"Constitutional Court's decision on politically motivated case to disband #Thailand's main opposition @FWPthailand and slap get together executives with 10 year-ban from political activity is knockout blow for electoral pluralism after 5 years of military guideline," Human Privileges Watch's senior Thailand researcher Sunai Phasuk explained in a tweet.
"The votes of more than 6 millions Thais, who support @FWPthailand, will be cancelled. Their rights to liberty of expression, association, tranquil assembly and democratic participation are violated due to this fact," he added.
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