More than 3,000 people, from various occupations and backgrounds, have signed up to an online campaign protesting the possible dissolution of the Future Forward party by the Constitutional Court.
The campaign, named “Open Political Space for All Political Camps to Sign Up to Protest the Dissolution of Future Forward party”, on the change.org website, was reportedly launched by Charnvit Kasetsiri, former rector of Thammasat University and a member of the party.
Among the signatories are former election commissioner Kothom Arya, architect and designer Duangrith Bunnag, women and children’s rights advocate Thich na Nakhon, Banyong Pongpanich, labour leader Phanat Thailuan, Children’s Rights Foundation founder Montri Sinthavichai, singer Sutthipong Tatpitakkul, former member of the Political Science Faculty of Thammasat University Seksan Prasertkul, scholar Sulak Sivaraksa, Anusorn Thammajai, movie director Yutthalert Lippapark, labour leader Banchong Boonrat and more.
Democrat party deputy spokesman Ramet Rattanachaweng said today that the ongoing campaign amounted to applying pressure on the Constitutional Court.
“Nobody knows what the court’s ruling will be, so people should wait for the court to announce its decision. That is the best way forward,” he said.
The Constitutional Court is scheduled to deliver its ruling on the case, in which the Future Forward party accepted a 191.2 million loan from party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit in violation of the Political Party Act, on February 21st. The Election Commission, who submitted the case, is seeking the dissolution of the party and a 5 year ban from politics of its executive committee.
Political observers said there are three possible outcomes. The Future Forward party is found guilty and the party is dissolved and its executive committee banished from politics, the party is found not guilty or the party is found guilty and its executive committee banned from politics, but the party is not dissolved.
