



by Josh Petchmak





A Kingdom populated with royalists and middle-class Bangkokians pitted against a rural, anti-militaristic second half. Thailand's Future Forward Party undoubtedly faces constant attack from authoritative government bodies - most notably the Election Commission.





It comes to a no-surprise when the Constitutional Court, Election Commission, Thai Military, and Thai Police group up to make sure FFP doesn't succeed.

Thanatorn Juangroongruangkit, the FFP's Party Leader, has been disqualified as an MP, his party under increased scrutiny.





Shown: Juangroongruangkit speaks to his party about the Cybercrime Case





Even more so, the Election Commission has decided to file a motion on December 11th disbanding the Future Forward Party by cause of executives receiving donations from illegitimate sources. It can choose to halt party operations entirely, or dissolve it. Bangkok Post, a Thai published daily newspaper, says:

"The EC issued a statement on Wednesday it found the party had violated Section 72 of the Political Party Act, which prohibits political parties and its executives from accepting cash, assets or other benefits when they know or should know they come from an illegitimate source." (Bangkok Post).





FFP Secretary-General Piyabutr Saengkanokkul and spokeswoman Pannika Wanich will face bans from politics - for 10 years. Both will be unable to establish parties, and become executives.

Shown: Piyabutr Saengkanokkul and Pannika Wanich speak to party members





THE DETAILS

Reuters reports: "The party borrowed 191.2 million baht ($6.3 million) in two sums, one of 161.2 million baht ($5.3 million) in January, and a second of 30 million ($994,000) in April, Thanathorn said in an official declaration of assets to an anti-graft panel."

Consequently as a result, the law states

"Section 66 refers to donations, rather than loans, and reads: “No one may donate cash, assets or other benefits worth more than 10 million baht to a political party.” (Bangkok Post).

Titipol Phakdeewanich, Dean of the faculty of political science at Ubon Ratchathani University told the media “This could escalate the popularity of the Future Forward Party and if it gets dissolved the party’s popularity won’t die but will become stronger,” (Reuters).





Itself accused of bias in the Thai 2019 General Election, the Thai Junta heavily gerrymandered its constituency borders to favor Phalang Pracharath ("Power of the People's State") a party with ties to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) - ones behind the coup in 2014.









Electoral district documents, Oct. 4 at a press briefing by the Election Commission.





The junta regime clearly does not stop in its hot-headed witch hunt to take down Thailand's Democracy Movement. It realizes that the longer it waits, young and fiery citizens will not. For far too long has the regime repulsively shown its true colors. Despite facing demonstrably difficult challenges, Democracy shall prevail.

























Sources:





Bangkok Post Public Company Limited. “Future Forward Dissolution Request Sent to Court.” Https://Www.bangkokpost.com, Bangkok Post, 2019, www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/1813684/future-forward-dissolution-request-sent-to-court#v.





Saksornchai, Jintamas. Google Image Result for Http://Www.khaosodenglish.com/Wp-Content/Uploads/2019/03/S__4186298-696x465.Jpg, Khaosod English, Mar. 2019, images.app.goo.gl/xFoDVvM1gNzHmfjR6.

“Thai Election Panel Wants Opposition Party Dissolved over Loans from Leader.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 11 Dec. 2019, www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-politics-idUSKBN1YF17M.

Rojanaphruk, Pravit. “Parties Fume Over New 'Gerrymandered' Electoral Map.” Khaosod English, 30 Nov. 2018, www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2018/11/30/parties-fume-over-gerrymandered-electoral-map/.



















