Thai court orders dissolution of opposition party | DW News

Thailand's Constitutional Court has ordered the dissolution of the progressive Move Forward party over its proposed amendment to reform the country's royal defamation laws. The court ruled the proposal unconstitutional, with serious consequences for the party and its leader. Pita Limjaroenrat led the Move Forward party to a popular victory in last year's elections, but he was blocked from forming a government. He and his party have now been banned from politics for a decade. Thailand has some of the strictest royal defamation laws in the world.

Chapters
00:00 Thai court orders dissolution of opposition party
00:35 Matt Hunt, Journalist
03:35 Pita Limjaroenrat, Former Opposition Leader
04:17 Panu Wongcha-um, Journalist

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[raksuriya]

Thailand has democracy just on the surface. But inside it is a military dictatorship. Thai people like me know this very well.

[Miunaka]

As a Thai who wants to see Thailand's better future. I'm really disappointed for what happened.

[gajaholeng]

the illusion of democracy in the monarchy state of thailand

[peatkortenjan]

Imagine being so fragile and insecure in your reign that you can't let a party voted by the majority of people to power and instead abuse your power to dissolute it

[youkeepwalking]

To be clear they wanted to introduce legislation to make the 112 law less draconian. Sady the courts are stacked with junta appointees who do their masters bidding and they termed that legislation as an attempt to overthrow the monarchy - patently absurd. A dark day for Thailand, for democracy and for the ntegrity of the judiciary.

[weekdaycycling]

The Thai Constitutional Court should be dissolved. This so-called independent organization has proven itself to be a waste of taxpayers' money and has never acted independently as claimed.

[keatkimheng]

Not surprised 😂
Thailand never has democracy system, this country has the most coup in the region

[kristsanakhuranae]

There is No real democracy in this country since i was born 😂

[pinkwine]

Thailand has experienced high levels of corruption for the past 50 years, primarily due to entrenched political powers in parliament. The laws have often been crafted to benefit the influential elite, leading to a facade of democracy. This situation has resulted in a lack of empathy for the general populace and a deficiency in justice. Additionally, despite winning elections, opposition parties have faced dissolution and have not been allowed to form the government.

[jacobrandall]

This is what the UN should be cracking down on and getting involved in. We dont need another bangladesh

[plingz]

As a move forward party voter, we will not give up 😊 I'll fight with them till the end🧡

[wisenber]

Banning or prosecuting opposing parties or leaders appears to be all the rage of late.

[larinw]

I’m Thai . I feel so sad and hopeless for my country 😢

[Usersgjfaygdc]

Dear Friends and Allies,
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the many countries in the UN and the numerous ambassadors of various countries who have shown their support for us. Your unwavering support and vocal opposition to the dissolution of the Move Forward Party have been a beacon of hope for many in Thailand who believe in democracy, political pluralism, and the right to peaceful advocacy.
Your commitment to upholding democratic values and human rights is deeply appreciated. It reassures us that we are not alone in our pursuit of a just and inclusive society. Together, we can continue to strive for a future where diverse voices are heard, respected, and protected.
Thank you for your solidarity and for championing the principles of freedom and democracy.
With sincere appreciation

[taetaeya]

Malaysia also has laws that protect their monarchy from criticism. But for Malaysia it is the death penalty.

[cbaccount-nz]

Clearly he is incompetent. His approach to the 112 law, repealing Thailand's lese-majeste law, is clearly creating a deep rift in society, causing division and animosity towards the monarchy. His strategy seems to be less about genuine reform and more about capitalizing on populist sentiments to gain favor with younger voters.
His approach may appeal to a segment of the population eager for change, is ultimately impractical and short-sighted. It overlooks the complex historical and cultural significance of the monarchy in Thailand, instead reducing it to a tool for political gain. He is burning them down in pursuit of a singular agenda. His focus on the monarchy as a central issue distracts from other pressing concerns like economic inequality, education reform, and infrastructure development, that are critical to Thailand's future.

His approach, which taps into the frustrations of the younger generation, may win votes in the short term but lacks the depth and foresight needed for sustainable governance. By prioritizing controversial reforms over consensus-building, he risks destabilizing the political stability rather than improving it.

[YanakornJiraphakdeekul]

As Thai citizens, we feel hopeless about what's happening in our own country.

[theotherohlourdespadua]

Only means one thing: the Junta in Myanmar has at least one good news for them since the party in power in Thailand is pro-Junta...

[owlkimuruocean]

พรรคก้าวไกล คือเสียงของคนไทยที่แท้จริง

[VicHan-sc]

Don't judge people by what you hear. If you're interested, try to study the details from several local sources.