By Linda Khoo
BANGKOK, Dec 23 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Thai police today summoned Thailand’s most prominent opposition figure, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit to hear charges relating to a rally in Bangkok on Dec 14.
Pathumwan police chief, Col Patikorn Sornchai said police had issued a summons to Future Forward Party (FFP) leader Thanathorn and party member, Pairatchote Chantarakhachorn to report to Pathumwan police by 10 am (local time) on Friday.
He said two party executives — secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul and party spokeswoman Pannika Wanich — and party-list Member of Parliament (MP) Pita Limjaroenrat would be summoned once the police obtain permission from the Parliament president.
The three MPs are protected by parliamentary immunity while the session is ongoing.
Police said Thanathorn had called on party supporters to rally in Bangkok on Dec 14 for justice and equality.
Thanathorn also posted on Twitter that it was time for the people “to make noise”.
Police said the rally organisers had violated the Public Assembly Act including failing to notify the authority, failing to control the rally participants and using a loudspeaker without permission.
Some media said it was Thailand’s biggest protest since a 2014 coup.
On Dec 11, Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) asked the Constitutional Court to dissolve FFP as Thanathorn had violated the Political Party Act by providing a 191-million-baht loan to the party.
Last month, Thanathorn was disqualified as an MP after the court found him guilty of violating the election law.
He was found guilty of violating Section 98(3) of the Constitution by holding shares in V-Luck Media Company while being a candidate in Thailand’s general election on March 24.
FFP came in third in the election and became part of an opposition bloc. Currently, FFP has 79 MPs in the Lower House of Parliament.
— NNN-BERNAMA
