In a whirlwind of political maneuvering, activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana has taken center stage yet again, this time setting his sights on the People’s Party (PP). Ruangkrai has filed a petition with the Election Commission (EC) to investigate whether the PP, which rose from the ashes of the disbanded Move Forward Party (MFP), has veered away from adhering to crucial party regulations. Should these allegations hold water, the PP’s August 9th appointment of party executives might be declared unlawful. Ruangkrai stated that he has already dispatched his petition to the EC through the mail.
Detailing the disputed appointments, the PP’s extraordinary meeting on August 9 saw Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut assume the role of party leader, Chutima Kotchapan take on responsibilities as party treasurer, Natthawut Buapratum become the party registrar, and Phicharn Chaowapatanawong join the party’s board, among others. However, a shadow of doubt looms over these new roles. According to Regulation No 52 of the Thin Kakao Chaovilai Party, the previous identity of the PP, meetings including the vital August 9 gathering should have been announced at least a week in advance. This regulation appears to have been overlooked, considering the MFP was dissolved just two days prior, on August 7.
As if the political intrigue couldn’t get spicier, Arpath Sukhanunth, Secretary-General of the House, added more fuel to the fire. He revealed that he was questioned by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) last month regarding the now-defunct MFP’s bill to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known colloquially as the lese majeste law. The saga began when the MFP first submitted the bill on March 25, 2021. During the NACC questioning, Arpath elucidated that the bill never saw the light of day because it was perceived to be unconstitutional.
The contentious bill in question aimed to strike out Section 112 from the Criminal Code’s Chapter 1, which covers national security, only to introduce a new chapter featuring two new sections. The first section dealt with offenses involving defaming or showing hostility towards the King, and the second addressed similar offenses against the Queen, other members of the royal family, and regents. However, despite its ambition, the push to reframe the legal landscape hit a wall.
Even after the bill’s initial rejection, the MFP audaciously resubmitted it unchanged, setting the stage for a renewed review by the House’s coordination committee. However, persistence didn’t pay off this time around either. Upon thorough examination, the committee once again declared the bill unconstitutional, pointing out three additional reasons to justify its stance, effectively sealing the bill’s fate with the governmental equivalent of an ironclad veto.
This is an obvious political witch hunt by Ruangkrai. The People’s Party is just trying to survive after the chaotic disbanding of MFP.
Witch hunt or not, if they didn’t follow the regulations, they should face the consequences. Political parties should adhere to the law like everyone else.
But the regulations seem overly strict given the circumstances. Two days is hardly enough time to reorganize a new party structure!
That’s what they get for being sloppy with their legal housekeeping. Maybe they rushed it to get ahead in politics, and now it’s backfiring.
Political maneuvering at its finest! The People’s Party and its predecessors are no strangers to controversy. This makes me question their integrity.
Every party has skeletons in their closet. This isn’t the first-time political parties use loopholes and it won’t be the last.
People’s integrity in politics? That’s a bit of an oxymoron, don’t you think? It’s all about gaining power.
Can we just talk about how the lese majeste law is archaic? The MFP’s bill, flawed or not, was an attempt to bring about necessary change.
But at what cost? Disrespecting traditions can lead to unrest. Some laws are there for a reason.
Exactly, Jose! Reform is essential if we want to move forward. The current laws offer too much censorship.
Glad someone gets it, EchoChamber33. Progress requires challenging outdated norms.
People condemning PP should remember the party doesn’t exist in a vacuum. They might’ve been forced into this hurried election by external pressures.
Good point. We should consider the bigger picture and not just point fingers all the time.
Agreed. Political pressure can force decisions that seem brash but are necessary for survival.
Isn’t it concerning that we’re focusing on PP’s appointments instead of the content of their policies? Ruangkrai’s tactics are mere distractions.
Yes, the spotlight is misplaced. Policies impact citizens’ lives more than internal party squabbles.
Distractions or not, these procedural hiccups are important too. They reveal the true nature of the party’s dedication to lawfulness.
Sending a petition by mail? This is 2023, why not use email or another faster medium. Seems like an outdated process.
Sometimes traditional methods ensure more credibility and formality. Certain legal procedures still prefer mail.
Fair point, Tim. But wouldn’t a faster process help expedite justice?
The timing of Ruangkrai’s petition strikes me as strategic. He knows exactly how to shake things up.
It always comes down to political gamesmanship. Both sides are guilty of playing the system to their advantage.
The fact that Natthaphong and others could be unlawfully appointed is disturbing. We need more transparency in political processes.
Hard to trust any party nowadays. The moment you pick a side, scandals erupt.
Interesting how the focus is on PP right now. What about the larger issues at hand? Are we ignoring other pressing matters for this drama?
True. It’s like the media just wants to stir controversy rather than addressing real issues.
This petition might set a precedent. If the EC sides with Ruangkrai, more parties could see similar scrutiny in the future.
If rules were broken, it should be dealt with regardless of who benefits or suffers from it.
This seems like a cleverly veiled attempt to destabilize the People’s Party just as they are getting their footing.
Agreed. It’s like they are not being given a fair chance to prove themselves.
Or maybe it’s a test of their resilience. If they can weather this, they can handle bigger issues in the future.
I see your point, but it’s still unsettling to see such tactics being employed.
Ruangkrai is known for his relentless pursuit of ‘justice.’ It’s debatable whether his intentions are pure or politically motivated.
Regardless of the politics, this serves as a valuable lesson in understanding the robustness of our democratic systems.