Move Forward refutes anti-monarchy accusations

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

MOVE FORWARD LEADER Chaithawat Tulathon today (Jan.31) categorically denied that his partisan colleagues had looked to amend the lese majeste law with alleged intent to undermine the monarchy as otherwise accused in court.

The Move Forward leader was responding to the Constitutional Court’s ruling delivered hours earlier against a sustained attempt of the progressive party for amendment to the lese majeste law, better known as the draconian Section 112, with a court order for an immediate end to it.

The Constitutional Court has ordered for an immediate freeze to any moves of the Move Forward rank and file, especially during the party’s future electoral campaigns, toward the planned amendment to the lese majeste law which may be considered as tantamount to an “abrasive” act against the monarchy.

Chaithawat contended that a group of 44 Move Forward MPs including former Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat who had earlier endorsed the Section 112 amendment bid had done so for a good cause and no malicious intent toward the monarchy had been designed either in open or surreptitious fashion.

He said the Move Forward MPs had merely intended to keep the lese majeste law from being practically abused as a destructive apparatus by any of their political opponents.

Neither was the draconian law be primarily supposed to be arbitrarily exercised by those who may have invariably pledged unilateral allegiances to the monarchy and country whilst viewing others with opposing views as their enemy, according to the Move Forward leader.

Meanwhile, Pita said his party’s rank and file have been prepared to further engage in a legal battle since today’s court ruling might probably be used as a groundwork for a fresh petition to be filed at the Election Commission as a channel for the Constitutional Court to consider dissolving the progressive party at a later date.

Such complaints would likely accuse the 44 Move Forward MPs of having violated the constitution’s Section 49 with an allegedly surreptitious design to undermine the monarchy by way of amending Section 112.

If finally found guilty as charged in court, the Move Forward could possibly be dissolved with all the party’s executive board members being banned from politics for a number of years.

The Move Forward has practically resurrected from the Future Forward which had been dissolved by court in 2020 after the then-party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit had unlawfully provided 191 million baht in cash to his camp whilst a cash donation from an individual is limited by law to a maximum of 10 million baht.

Thanathorn had argued in vain that his financial support for the dissolved party was merely a loan to be repaid in the future but the court finally ruled it as a giveaway.

CAPTIONS:

A large number of Move Forward fan club wearing orange shirts and caps with the party’s logo showed up at Parliament this evening (Jan. 31) to give encouragement with former party leader Pita Limjaroenrat coming down to greet them. Photos: Thai Rath

Insert: Move Forward Party leader Chaithawat Tulathon talking to the press today, Jan. 31, 2024. Photo: Matichon