The Constitutional Court has been warned that Thailand’s third bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for 2025-27 in October could be jeopardised if it decides to dissolve the opposition Move Forward party on August 7th.
The warning comes from Chamnan Chanruang, a core member of the Progressive movement, led by former Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.
Chamnan also noted that Thailand will host the 6th symposium of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions (AACC) in Bangkok from September 17th to 21st.
He said presidents of charter courts and equivalent Institutions from 19 countries will participate, adding that he wonders how the president of the Thai Constitutional Court would be able to face his counterparts and answer their questions if the Move Forward party is dissolved.
Thailand’s second attempt to secure a seat on the UNHRC failed as a result of diplomatic fallout from the 2014 coup and the subsequent increase in human rights violations, including misuse of the lèse majesté law as a weapon against political opposition.
Chamnan said he believes, however, that the court may spare Move Forward, by dropping the Election Commission’s petition demanding the party’s dissolution on the grounds that the EC did not follow procedure in its submission.
He noted though that, even if the EC’s petition is dropped for that, it could be resubmitted if it follows procedure. Nonetheless, the Move Forward party and its former leader, Pita Limjaroenrat have already been ordered to cease all activities pertaining to amendment of the lèse majesté law in a January ruling.
If the court does decide to dissolve the party, Chamnan said its members and MPs will join a new party, which will not be bound by the court’s January ruling, and they would continue to campaign for amendments to the lèse majesté law.
