The renowned apex court of Thailand has formally issued a lifetime ban against Pannika “Chor” Wanich, a prominent former member of the Future Forward Party (FFP), which restricts her right to contest elections or hold political office due to her indiscreet public disdain towards the Thai Monarchy. The court’s decision is consequential to a complaint lodged against a Facebook post she made in 2019, venting her disrespect to the monarchy.
This dramatic saga commenced when Chor’s Facebook post came to the attention of the secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution, Srisuwan Janya. Prompted by her remarks, Janya registered a plea with the influential National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), setting into motion a comprehensive inquiry into Chor’s ill-considered conduct. The NACC then proceeded to present a detailed report to the Supreme Court, accusing the former parliamentarian of direct affront towards the monarchy.
The NACC’s investigation revealed that despite her election to the parliament, Chor left the contentious post undeleted – an act viewed as an ominous threat to the existing establishment with the monarch as the titular head of the state, and the royal family. Chor’s defense team made a case that the alleged offensive images and texts were put up before specific laws and ethical norms surrounding such issues were put into place. However, the decision of the Supreme Court went against her as they banned her for life, acknowledging the egregiousness of her offence.
Chor, along with 16 other executive committee members of FFP, had earlier been barred from participating in Thai politics for a duration of 10 years after the dissolution of the party. Despite the ban, Chor continues to make her presence felt in Thai politics, joining hands with ex-FFP leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and former secretary of Move Forward Party (MFP), Piyabutr Saengkanokkul. The collective — known as the Progressive Movement, is drilling down on the reformation of Section 112, infamously known as the lese majeste law.
A surprising turn of events was when Pareena Kraikupt, the former Palang Pracharath Party MP for the Ratchaburi province, took to Facebook to voice her discontent with the court’s ruling. Long viewed as Chor’s political adversary, Pareena remarked that while she was personally appeased by Chor’s banishment, she took issue with the court’s judgement, criticizing Thailand’s ethical laws.
Pareena expressed her concern over Thailand’s divergence from international standards, pointing out that the country exclusively imposes ethical laws to discipline politicians. Pareena is free to voice such groundbreaking opinions as she too finds herself in a similar predicament, facing a lifetime ban for illicit land ownership. The Department of Land Reform currently supervises the disputed land.
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