According to a recently banned opposition figurehead, the Thai politicians must reform the judiciary to stop interventions that make the country ‘go around in circles’, following two major judgments that dissolved his party and sacked a prime minister.
Pita Limjaroenrat, whose now-defunct Move Forward Party last year failed in its attempt to create a government said he would still be determined enough to take Thailand back on track and come up with fresh ideas of independence for some autonomous institutions.
Thailand has been engulfed by more than 20 years of coups and legal cases that have ousted countless administrations, which is part of who will wield power between popular parties elected by citizens and influential establishment connected strongly with military authorities and key institutions.
“Nothing for people will have changed; it is merely back at square one,” Pita told Reuters reflecting on a week during which Move Forward was dissolved and Srettha Thavisin resigned as prime minister for Thailand both courtesy of the same court.
“We mistake movement for progress,” he said. “It’s like we’re going around in circles or moving somewhere when actually we are going nowhere.”
These comments followed a statement from 134 Thai academics and legal experts who criticized the court as they believe that it had gone beyond its powers thereby undermining public confidence on legal and democratic systems.
After being prohibited because his party wished to change a law that permits up to fifteen years behind bars for royal defamation, Pita will go back to Harvard University as a democracy fellow.
Pita’s predicament exemplifies the brutal politics in Thailand whereby despite leading Move Forward into an unexpected electoral victory which overwhelmingly endorsed its progressive anti-establishment platform, Pita is extremely popular but remains sidelined
Even though army-appointed senators denied his bid for premiership long ago, 43-year-old Pita has always kept leading in preference polls among possible prime ministers in Thailand.
“Waiting for my time”
He alongside other 43 colleagues could again be facing another case regarding the lese majeste campaign and receive lifetime political ban from anti-corruption commission whose mandate goes beyond corruption cases.
He has also told us that elected politicians should change some institutions including the commission and courts in order for them to be independent and accountable to citizens.
“We shouldn’t penalize anyone for different standards of ethics or morals because, frankly speaking, our democracy does not need this,” he asserted.
Among the Thai people there was anxiety on the economic future of Thailand since two decisions resulted in both cases’ casualties regrouping within a couple days without changing much.
The People’s Party was formed as an offshoot of Move Forward with the Pheu Thai Party-led coalition now rallying behind Srettha’s successor Paetongtarn Shinawatra who won overwhelming support from parliament on Friday then got a royal nod on Sunday
Thaksin Shinawatra is Paetongtarn’s father, a controversial billionaire politician whose populist parties have borne the brunt of Thailand’s troubles. The lawyer said only after July 2025 will his witness testimony begin though he stands accused of committing lèse-majesté crime against King Rama X.
He hopes to go back into politics stronger by writing a memoir about his roller-coaster experience and giving speeches and seminars on Southeast Asian politics
‘I will still be waiting for my moment since I still want change in Thailand,’ he said.
‘When I come back to lead the nation, I will be a better person because of the knowledge and experience that I would have gathered.’
