Senator Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan has warned the Move Forward party not to underestimate supporters of the Thai monarchy with its planned attempt to amend the lèse majesté law.
Her Facebook post today (Monday) was in response to a threat by the “United Front for Thammasat and Demonstration” (UFTD), an organisation affiliated with the Ratsadon anti-establishment group, to hold a rally in front of parliament tomorrow, to pressure senators not to block Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s selection as Thailand’s 30th prime minister.
The former head of the Central Institute of Forensic Science said that the rally shows that “those behind the rally have the intention to trample on the hearts of the Thai people who are loyal to the monarchy.”
She said that, even though the Move Forward party won the most seats (152) in the 500 seat House in the May 14th general election, the party cannot claim that it has the support of the majority of the Thai people.
She said several of the party’s policies are good and have never been tried before, but she warned that there is one thing that the party must not touch, that is the monarchy.
Khunying Porntip pleaded with the public to remain calm, to wait and see if the Move Forward party really wants to press for amendment of the lèse majesté law.
A rally by those who are against the monarchy will backfire on the party and its leader, she claimed, adding that, if Pita’s prime ministerial candidacy fails to get approval “it will not be the fault of the senators, but of failed negotiations among coalition partners in forming the new government.”
