The lawyer who succeeded in dissolving the Move Forward Party has approached the Constitutional Court to prevent ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from threatening the constitutional monarchy through his influence over the core-coalition Pheu Thai Party.
In a detailed petition spanning 5,080 pages submitted to the court last Thursday, Therayut Suwankesorn accuses both Thaksin and the party, currently led by his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The petition accuses Thaksin of manipulating the Ministry of Justice under the Pheu Thai government to facilitate his prolonged hospitalization at Police General Hospital, despite his prior conviction for abuse of power.
Therayut also alleges that Thaksin urged the government to negotiate shared marine territories with Cambodia based on a 2001 agreement from his tenure as prime minister, despite ongoing disputes over the maritime border.
Additionally, the document claims that Thaksin directed Pheu Thai to collaborate with the People’s Party to advocate for constitutional changes.
This party is a reformulation of the Move Forward Party, previously condemned by the Constitutional Court for endangering the constitutional monarchy, as Therayut highlights.
Thaksin is further accused of organizing discussions at his residence with coalition parties regarding a successor to former prime minister Srettha Thavisin on August 14, the same day the Constitutional Court dismissed Mr. Srettha for ethical violations.
The petition further claims that Thaksin instructed Pheu Thai to exclude the Palang Pracharath Party from the coalition government.
Therayut mentioned that the policy declaration made by Ms. Paetongtarn in parliament on September 12 mirrored the ambitious “vision” Thaksin had outlined during a dinner speech on August 22.
Therayut argues that Thaksin and Pheu Thai pose a threat to the dignity of the royal institution and the nation’s party-political system.
He implored the court to restrain Thaksin from using Pheu Thai as a means to dominate national governance and also requested that Pheu Thai be ordered to cease acting as an instrument for Thaksin.
In addition to initiating the petition that led to the downfall of Move Forward, Mr. Therayut is also known for representing Suwit Thongprasert, previously known as Phra Buddha Isara, an activist monk central to the Bangkok Shutdown protests that precipitated the 2014 military coup.
Therayut revealed to journalists that he had consulted Paiboon Nititawan, secretary-general of the Palang Pracharath Party, regarding the petition.
Mr. Paiboon confirmed on Thursday that although there was a discussion, his party was not involved in the petition process.
Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn interpreted the petition’s content and timing as indicating possible cooperation with Palang Pracharath, stemming from Thaksin’s displeasure with “the uncle.”
This refers to Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, leader of Palang Pracharath and a principal orchestrator of the coup that ousted the government headed by Thaksin’s sister Yingluck in 2014.
Gen Prawit has faced criticism from a former Pheu Thai spokesperson over his repeated absences from parliament, leading him to agree to return his MP salary and allowances.
