Thailand Election: Future Forward's Thanathorn Faces Sedition Charges
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published April 06, 2019 | 01:44 PM
The leader of a new political party that did well in Thailand's election last month has appeared at a police station to face charges of sedition.
Bangkok (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 06th April, 2019) The leader of a new political party that did well in Thailand's election last month has appeared at a police station to face charges of sedition.Scores of supporters greeted Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the leader of Future Forward, at the Bangkok offices.Thanathorn says an allegation, from 2015, that he aided a protest leader is politically motivated.The ruling military and an opposition coalition are both vying to form the next government following the polls.At 40, he is the young and charismatic head of the Future Forward Party, which has appealed strongly to young voters and opposes the military government, which has been in charge of Thailand since 2014.Future Forward did well in March's election, finishing a strong third, gathering 6.2 million votes.It has since joined a "democratic alliance" to try to prevent the 2014 coup leader and current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha from staying in power.They date back to 2015 and allege Thanathorn gave assistance to the leader of anti-coup protesters, who violated laws on crowd gatherings.Thanathorn is accused of breaking three articles of the Thai criminal code and could face up to nine years in prison if found guilty.He could also be disqualified from parliament.The charges have been filed by an officer in the ruling government.Commenting on the delay in bringing the charges, police said there had been several reshuffles of personnel.
Thanathorn is also facing a cybercrime charge for allegedly spreading false information.Earlier in the week he said the charges were politically motivated, adding: "The dark influence will not leave Future Forward Party alone."As he left the police station on Saturday, he asked: "Why does this come a week after the election?"We believe in our innocence This isn't about me.
This is about everyone who fights for justice."Scores of supporters, many wearing the party's orange colour, shouted slogans backing Thanathorn.They held up posters with the trending #SaveThanathorn hashtag and slogans such as "end the age of the dinosaur".The election results are not scheduled to be ratified until 9 May.Preliminary results suggest the party backing Gen Prayuth won the most popular votes, ahead of the Pheu Thai party, which is allied with exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.But a complicated system of allocating seats in parliaments based on vote share, introduced by the military, means it remains unclear how many seats each party will ultimately have, hence the uncertainty on the next government.The Election Commission has been indicating that fewer seats than expected will be given to Future Forward and Thanathorn's supporters view the latest criminal charge against him as part of a wider campaign to keep his party out of power.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
PM vows to work for country along with students
US ambassador meets Senate Chairman, discusses bilateral ties
UHS to issue MBBS degrees within three months after final result
Aiman Khan granted UAE Golden Visa
PSX achieves significant milestone, surpasses 72,000 mark
Pak Vs NZ T20I: Orphaned children extended special invitation to watch match
Finance Minister lauds UNDP’s unwavering support during floods
President Raisi leaves for Iran from Karachi
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 24 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 24 April 2024
Punjab CM inaugurates Pakistan’s first Virtual Women Police Station
Dutch model Donny Roelvink embraces Islam
More Stories From World
-
Danger warning issued for Bangkok as extreme heat bites
7 seconds ago -
Iran cuts Syria presence after strikes blamed on Israel: monitor
10 minutes ago -
Four injured as escaped army horses bolt through central London
10 minutes ago -
Biden pledges swift weapons delivery to Ukraine
20 minutes ago -
Ukraine attack drones strike Russia energy sites
40 minutes ago -
UK Rwanda deportation law leaves asylum seekers fearful
49 minutes ago
-
More floods expected in China's Pearl River basin: ministry
50 minutes ago -
Water release resumes after partial power outage at Fukushima plant
1 hour ago -
Spain court says investigating PM's wife for graft
1 hour ago -
'So hot you can't breathe': Extreme heat hits the Philippines
1 hour ago -
Thousands in heatwave-hit Bangladesh pray for rain
1 hour ago -
China-Pakistan Investment and Trade Symposium held in Qingdao
1 hour ago