Thailand has banned its young, progressive main opposition leader from politics for 10 years.
Former Thai prime ministerial candidate and former leader of the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) Pita Limjaroenrat (L) gestures at the Thai Parliament before the Constitutional Court decides on whether to dissolve his party over its pledge to reform the royal insult laws, in Bangkok. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
Pita Limjaroenrat (C), prime minister candidate and leader of the Move Forward Party greets his supporters during the rally. (Photo by Varuth Pongsapipatt/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Pita had run on a campaign of promoting democracy, removing the military’s influence on politics and revising the lèse-majesté law, which jails people for criticizing the monarchy.
A Thai protester points a finger at the Thai military during an anti-coup protests as General Prayuth receives the Royal Endorsement as the military coup leader in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat (C) takes part in the Pride March event in Bangkok. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP) (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images)
A supporter of former Thai prime ministerial candidate and ex-Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat celebrates outside the Constitutional Court in Bangkok. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP)
Srettha Thavisin, a candidate for prime minister of the Phue Thai Party speaks to the media during a press conference at the Phue Thai party headquarter after he was elected as the 30th Prime Minister of Thailand. (Photo by Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
But a few days later, the court ordered Move Forward to drop its plans to reform the lèse-majesté law, saying it was unconstitutional.
Move Forward Party Leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat speaks to the media in Thai Parliament after the parliamentary vote for the premiership in Bangkok. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
On Wednesday Aug. 7, the constitutional court officially disbanded Move Forward, finding that its attempt to revise the lèse-majesté law amounted to attempting to overthrow the monarchy.
Supporters of the Move Forward Party react after the Constitutional Court ruled to dissolve the party over its pledge to reform the royal insult laws. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
It banned 11 of its members, including Pita, from politics for a decade.
Supporters at the Move Forward Party (MFP) headquarters react after Thailand's Constitutional Court ruled that former MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat was to receive a decade-long ban and dissolve his party after challenging royal defamation laws. (Photo by Chanakarn Laosarakham / AFP)
Speaking after the verdict, Pita said he was “absolutely proud” of what he had achieve and had no regrets.
This screengrab from Thai TV Pool video taken on May 1, 2019 shows a ceremony in which Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn “legally married” Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhya in Bangkok. (Photo credit should read THAI TV POOL/AFP/Getty Images)
He said that he felt he had left his dent in the universe and would make sure to pass the baton onto the next generation of leaders.
ormer Thai prime ministerial candidate and ex-Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat (C) looks on during a press conference at the party headquarters in Bangkok on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Chanakarn Laosarakham / AFP)
He added that he would continue his work as an active citizen, urging people to vent their frustration in every election going forward.
Pita Limjaroenrat, Prime Ministerial candidate for the Move Forward Party, gives a speech for supporters. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
Kassy Cho
