A Thai court has handed suspended sentences to former prime ministerial hopeful Pita Limjaroenrat and seven other political figures for holding an unlawful rally in 2019.
The case adds to the legal trouble facing the opposition Move Forward Party after the country’s constitutional court last week ruled that the party has undermined the monarchy and national security amid its campaign to amend a law protecting the monarchy from criticism.
Move Forward, a youthful, progressive party, won the most votes and seats in last year’s election after promising to reform the military, break up big business monopolies and to amend the lese-majesty law. However, the party was blocked from taking power by unelected senators, who are considered part of the military royalist establishment. The party’s liberal agenda and huge appeal among young and urban voters is seen to represent a threat to the status quo in Thailand.
On Monday, a district court in Bangkok gave a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years to six leading figures of Move Forward’s predecessor – the now defunct Future Forward Party (FFP). Two other activists were also sentenced.
The charges relate to a protest in 2019, led by the Future Forward Party, urging reform and calling on former prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to quit. The case concerns a protest held on 14 December for 40 minutes at a key Bangkok intersection, months before a court would dissolve the FFP, of which Pita was a member.
“A court ruled that the protest was organised without permission, blocked public space, and was within 150 metres from Pathumwan palace,” lawyer Krisadang Nootjaras told AFP.
The eight people sentenced, including business executive Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and member of parliament Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, all plan to appeal against the verdict, their lawyer said.
Pita, the former leader of Move Forward was only recently reinstated as an MP, but could be disqualified from parliament if his appeal fails and courts uphold the verdict. Thai law does not allow people convicted of serious crimes to hold parliamentary seats.
The party now faces potential dissolution and its executives a ban from politics after lawyers and opponents launched more legal challenges in the wake of the constitutional court ruling last week.
Criticism of the lese-majesty law, and of the royal family, has long been considered taboo in Thailand, but in 2020 mass youth-led protests demanded changes to the role of the monarchy, including an end to lese-majesty. Their protests dwindled after the authorities launched a legal crackdown, charging the main protest leaders.
Since then more than 260 people, including children, have been prosecuted under lese-majesty, also known as article 112 of the criminal code. Cases can be filed by anyone, and the law is interpreted broadly.
Last year, a man was given a reduced sentence of two years for selling satirical calendars featuring cartoon rubber ducks that a court said defamed the king. Another activist was sentenced in 2022 to two years for wearing fancy dress, which was deemed to be mocking the queen. Both are on bail while appealing against their convictions.
Reuters and Agence France-Press contributed to this report
