One of the judges of the Constitutional Court said he should be thanked for voting to dissolve the Move Forward Party which resulted in its successor party collecting more than 20 million baht in donations.
Udom Sitthiwirattham, one of the nine judges that voted to have the party disbanded early this month, was heard making the comment in a video clip that has gone viral in the social media. It was reported to be a part of a presentation he made at a forum on the role of the Constitution Court, in Surat Thani on August 15.
“Frankly speaking, they should thank me for dissolving the party. I helped them collect as much as 20 million baht in donations,” he was heard as saying.
Udom was among the nine judges that voted unanimously to have Move Forward dissolved after finding it guilty of attempting to overthrow the democratic system of governance with the King as head of state with its election campaign to amend the lese majeste law.
They also slapped a 10-year political ban on the members of its executive board, including its former leader Pita Limjaroenrat.
Key members of Move Forward, however, immediately founded a new party, known as the People’s Party, which within days was able to solicit more than 20 million baht in donations.
Udom’s remark drew immediate response from one of People’s Party’s key members, MP Rangsiman Rome. “This is not funny. It’s not something that should be joked about,” he said.
Rangsiman said there has been wide objection to the dissolution of Move Forward Party and the donations reflected people’s support for members of the defunct party to continue their political role under a new banner.
“Dissolving Move Forward has disfranchised many politicians who should represent the future of the country,” he said.
Photo: A still from a video clip of Udom Sitthiwirattham, one of the nine judges on the Constitutional Court, commenting on the dissolution of the Move Forward Party during a recent forum in Surat Thani.
