Amnesty International Senior Director Deprose Muchena said today that the Constitutional Court’s decision to dissolve the main opposition Move Forward party is untenable and reveals the authorities’ complete disregard for Thailand’s international human rights obligations.
“Dissolving the party, merely for advocating for reform, constitutes a serious violation of the rights to freedom of expression and association of lawmakers, who were simply performing their duty of proposing laws,” she said.
She also said, “The authorities’ relentless harassment of the political opposition represents a stark contradiction, as Thailand has publicly committed to global leadership on human rights by applying for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.
Thai authorities must urgently reverse the dissolution and stop weaponising laws to intimidate and harass critics, human rights defenders and opposition politicians.”
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, meanwhile, urged all parties to accept the court’s ruling, saying he believes the Move Forward party has a plan and means to continue political activities.
Students attending at least four universities have vowed to stage rallies this evening in protest against the court’s verdict.
The Department of Humanitarian and Human Rights Affairs of the Chulalongkorn University Student’s Club has urged supporters of the Move Forward party to converge at the Pathumwan skywalk in Bangkok at 6pm, to voice their opposition to the court’s ruling.
The faculties of Law at Chiang Mai University and Thammasat University plan to hold rallies on their campuses, while Maha Sarakham University students plan a separate protest at their university.
