วันเสาร์, เมษายน 06, 2562

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Thailand’s Junta Targets Opposition Leader, Flexing System Rigged in Its Favor


BANGKOK — Thailand’s military junta is targeting a popular new pro-democracy party, accusing its leader of causing disorder that could lead to rebellion even as the seat allotments from last week’s parliamentary elections are being calculated.

The billionaire leader of the Future Forward Party, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, was ordered on Wednesday to submit to the police for questioning in the case, which initially opened four years ago. He is accused of helping protesters flee arrest at a demonstration and faces up to seven years in prison.

Mr. Thanathorn, who has built a large following partly through social media, posted the summons on Facebook and Twitter and wrote: “When the dark power won’t leave Future Forward alone.”

“It’s clear now that the old-school political game won’t end after the election, but is only getting more intense, because they’re afraid of Future Forward,” he added. The party came in third in the balloting last week.

The summons came Wednesday, a day after Thailand’s Army chief, Gen. Apirat Kongsompong, warned that the military would not tolerate threats against the country’s constitutional monarchy, in which the king is deemed head of state. Some considered his comments to be directed at Future Forward.

“The army does the army’s duty, which is to protect, maintain, and defend the institutions of nation, religion, and monarchy,” the general told reporters.

The interventions are the latest indications that the Thai junta is clinging to every advantage it can to gain an edge through the election. And the junta gave itself many of those advantages, as it put in place a new Constitution and electoral system after seizing power in a 2014 coup.

Those changes gave the generals sweeping influence over Parliament itself, and over an Election Commission with great power to bar candidates and target lawmakers for ejection.





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