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Complaints were submitted to the anti-graft commission to ban 44
Move Forward politicians for life, alleging serious breaches of
ethics in backing a once unthinkable plan to amend one of the
world's strictest lese majeste laws.
The Constitutional Court on Wednesday ruled Move Forward must
abandon its proposal to review article 112 of the criminal code,
which carries jail terms of up to 15 years, saying it seriously
undermined the monarchy.
Thailand's constitution enshrines the king in a position of
"revered worship" and royalists regard the palace as sacrosanct.
"These actions are a legacy of sins," petitioner Sonthiya
Sawadee said of Move Forward's plan.
"They have not given up on amending article 112, meaning that
they are still intent on overthrowing the democratic regime of
government with the king as the head of state."
Move Forward won last year's election on a wave of youth and
urban support for a progressive platform that included undoing
business monopolies and curbing the military's entrenched
political influence.
But its taboo-breaking bid to amend article 112 outraged
conservatives and saw it blocked from forming a government by
lawmakers appointed by the royalist military.
Despite being in the opposition, Move Forward is the biggest
party in parliament, with an anti-establishment agenda that is
colliding with interests of powerful conservatives, old money
families and generals.
Friday's complaint targets 44 Move Forward legislators - 29
current and 15 former.
It was not immediately clear if the anti-graft body, which has a
remit beyond corruption, will investigate the complaint, which
was the second against the party in as many days.
On Thursday, an activist lawyer whose petitions toppled
politicians, including a prime minister, filed a complaint
seeking Move Forward's dissolution and bans for its leadership.
Move Forward's website on Friday no longer included lese majeste
law amendment among its policies.
"We are ready to defend ourselves ... reviewing laws is the
responsibility of legislators," deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul
told reporters.
"We are not worried because we have evidence to show we have not
breached ethical standards."
(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu
Wongcha-um; Editing by Martin Petty)
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