<div>A stridently anti-military Thai party was dissolved Friday and its key members banned from politics for a decade over a $6 million loan by its billionaire founder, a withering blow to the kingdom's pro-democracy movement.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>The <a href="The Future Forward Party (FFP), fronted by the charismatic auto-parts scion Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, emerged from nowhere in March last year to become Thailand's third biggest party in the first elections since a 2014 coup.">Future Forward Party</a> (FFP), fronted by the charismatic auto-parts scion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-join-biggest-protest-for-years-in-thai-capital-268301">Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit</a>, emerged from nowhere in March last year to become Thailand's third biggest party in the first elections since a 2014 coup.</div>

<div>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailands-future-forward-party-leader-charged-with-sedition-208296">Thailand's Future Forward Party leader charged with sedition</a></strong></p>

<p>The party's radical agenda calling for full democracy, an end to conscription and the removal of the army from politics and business pitched it against the powerful, conservative military.</p>
</div>

<div>But since their strong poll showing, <a href="The Future Forward Party (FFP), fronted by the charismatic auto-parts scion Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, emerged from nowhere in March last year to become Thailand's third biggest party in the first elections since a 2014 coup.">Thanathorn </a>and his 76 lawmakers have faced relentless rounds of legal cases in Thailand's courts.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>On Friday the nine-member constitutional court dissolved FFP, ruling a $6 million loan by <a href="The Future Forward Party (FFP), fronted by the charismatic auto-parts scion Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, emerged from nowhere in March last year to become Thailand's third biggest party in the first elections since a 2014 coup.">Thanathorn </a>breached the law governing political parties.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>The loan exceeded the $315,000 limit on donations to parties by an individual, one judge said.</div>

<div>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-join-biggest-protest-for-years-in-thai-capital-268301">Thousands join biggest protest for years in Thai capital</a></strong></p>

<p>Panya Udchachon told the court that "party executives must have known that a loan of that amount would give influence (to Thanathorn) and he could gain advantage over the party."</p>
</div>

<div>Sixteen party executives, including founder Thanathorn, were also "banned for running for political office for 10 years," judge Nakarin Mektriarat added.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>The ruling appears to end the political aspirations of Thanathorn, whose emergence on the Thai political stage has wowed millennials but frightened the country's conservative establishment.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Thanathorn has been a fierce critic of military involvement in politics in a country whose history is peppered with coups.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Thailand's current prime minister led the the 2014 coup against the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra.</div>


A stridently anti-military Thai party was dissolved Friday and its key members banned from politics for a decade over a $6 million loan by its billionaire founder, a withering blow to the kingdom's pro-democracy movement.

A stridently anti-military Thai party was dissolved Friday and its key members banned from politics for a decade over a $6 million loan by its billionaire founder, a withering blow to the kingdom's pro-democracy movement. The Future Forward Party (FFP), fronted by the charismatic auto-parts scion Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, emerged from nowhere in March last year to become Thailand's third biggest party in the first elections since a 2014 coup. Also read: Thailand's Future Forward Party leader charged with sedition The party's radical agenda calling for full democracy, an end to conscription and the removal of the army from politics and business pitched it against the powerful, conservative military. But since their strong poll showing, Thanathorn and his 76 lawmakers have faced relentless rounds of legal cases in Thailand's courts. On Friday the nine-member constitutional court dissolved FFP, ruling a $6 million loan by Thanathorn breached the law governing political parties. The loan exceeded the $315,000 limit on donations to parties by an individual, one judge said. Also read: Thousands join biggest protest for years in Thai capital Panya Udchachon told the court that "party executives must have known that a loan of that amount would give influence (to Thanathorn) and he could gain advantage over the party." Sixteen party executives, including founder Thanathorn, were also "banned for running for political office for 10 years," judge Nakarin Mektriarat added. The ruling appears to end the political aspirations of Thanathorn, whose emergence on the Thai political stage has wowed millennials but frightened the country's conservative establishment. Thanathorn has been a fierce critic of military involvement in politics in a country whose history is peppered with coups. Thailand's current prime minister led the the 2014 coup against the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

Thai court dissolves key pro-democracy party

<p>Thousands&nbsp;of&nbsp;Thais participated on Sunday in a&nbsp;run&nbsp;billed as an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-join-biggest-protest-for-years-in-thai-capital-268301">anti-government&nbsp;protest</a>, in what appeared to be the biggest show of dissent against the&nbsp;government&nbsp;of former junta leader Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-se-asian-states-push-trade-pact-despite-india-doubts-259709">Prayuth Chan-Ocha</a>.</p>

<p>Thousands&nbsp;of&nbsp;runners showed up at a public park in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailand-ushers-2020-with-ban-on-plastic-bags-271459">Bangkok</a> in athletic outfits and colourful shoes starting before sunrise to&nbsp;join&nbsp;the "Run&nbsp;Against Dictatorship" event. Organizers said more than 10,000 people registered to attend.</p>

<p>Many shouted, "Prayuth, get out!" or "Long live democracy!" while&nbsp;running the 2.6-km (1.6-mile) course amid a light presence of security forces. Some also gave a three-finger salute of resistance to the former junta, a gesture drawn from the film "The Hunger Games."</p>

<p><img alt="Runners flash three finger salute as they attend a &quot;Run Against Dictatorship&quot; event " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a46906d-bca9-49ed-a63d-46e74b20e13e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2840%29_1.jpg" /><br />
[ <em>Runners flash three finger salute as they attend a "Run&nbsp;Against Dictatorship" event at a public park in Bangkok,&nbsp;Thailand (Courtesy: Reuters) </em>]</p>

<p>The&nbsp;run&nbsp;followed a&nbsp;political&nbsp;rally last month staged by prominent opposition figure Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the largest since a 2014 coup when then-army chief Prayuth seized power from a civilian&nbsp;government.</p>

<p>Tanawat Wongchai, who organized Sunday's event, said it was aimed at opening public space for dissent to push back against&nbsp;political&nbsp;suppression that started after Prayuth's coup and now continued under his civilian&nbsp;government.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Anti-government&nbsp;protests erupt in Thailand</strong></p>

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<p>"We want people to feel that to come out and demand our rights and express ourselves is something that can be done," he said.</p>

<p>He dismissed concerns that the&nbsp;run&nbsp;could spark violent protests like those that have roiled the&nbsp;Thai&nbsp;capital periodically and culminated in 2006 and 2014 coups.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;government&nbsp;said it would allow Sunday's event to go ahead but warned participants not to break the law.</p>

<p><img alt="Runners warm up as they attend the &quot;Run Against Dictatorship&quot; event " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9cccead5-ed65-4270-b597-75920f1fae39" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2841%29_0.jpg" /><br />
[ <em>Runners warm up as they attend the "Run&nbsp;Against Dictatorship" event at a Public park in Bangkok,&nbsp;Thailand (Courtesy: Reuters) </em>]</p>

<p>During the December rally, Thanathorn publicly endorsed and urged supporters to&nbsp;join&nbsp;Sunday's event, originally called "Wing Lai Loong" in&nbsp;Thai, which translates as "Run&nbsp;to Oust the Uncle", an apparent reference to Prayuth whom&nbsp;Thais have nicknamed "Uncle Tu."</p>

<p>Thanathorn, a 41-year-old billionaire, has emerged as the most outspoken opponent of the new civilian&nbsp;government&nbsp;headed by Prayuth, 65, since an election in March 2019 that the opposition said was manipulated to favour Prayuth's pro-army party.</p>

<p>Thanathorn was charged on Friday with breaching a law on public assembly with the December rally, and Future Forward, the&nbsp;political&nbsp;party founded by Thanathorn, faces dissolution later this month by the constitutional court.</p>

<p>A rival event to the&nbsp;run&nbsp;was due to take place in another public park some 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) away.</p>

<p>About 3,000 people registered to&nbsp;join&nbsp;the "Walk to Cheer Uncle" event to show support for the&nbsp;government&nbsp;and Prayuth, according to the organizers.</p>


Thousands of Thais participated on Sunday in a run billed as an anti-government protest, in what appeared to be the biggest show of dissent against the government of former junta leader Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha.

Thousands of Thais participated on Sunday in a run billed as an anti-government protest, in what appeared to be the biggest show of dissent against the government of former junta leader Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha. Thousands of runners showed up at a public park in Bangkok in athletic outfits and colourful shoes starting before sunrise to join the "Run Against Dictatorship" event. Organizers said more than 10,000 people registered to attend. Many shouted, "Prayuth, get out!" or "Long live democracy!" while running the 2.6-km (1.6-mile) course amid a light presence of security forces. Some also gave a three-finger salute of resistance to the former junta, a gesture drawn from the film "The Hunger Games." [ Runners flash three finger salute as they attend a "Run Against Dictatorship" event at a public park in Bangkok, Thailand (Courtesy: Reuters) ] The run followed a political rally last month staged by prominent opposition figure Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the largest since a 2014 coup when then-army chief Prayuth seized power from a civilian government. Tanawat Wongchai, who organized Sunday's event, said it was aimed at opening public space for dissent to push back against political suppression that started after Prayuth's coup and now continued under his civilian government. Watch: Anti-government protests erupt in Thailand × "We want people to feel that to come out and demand our rights and express ourselves is something that can be done," he said. He dismissed concerns that the run could spark violent protests like those that have roiled the Thai capital periodically and culminated in 2006 and 2014 coups. The government said it would allow Sunday's event to go ahead but warned participants not to break the law. [ Runners warm up as they attend the "Run Against Dictatorship" event at a Public park in Bangkok, Thailand (Courtesy: Reuters) ] During the December rally, Thanathorn publicly endorsed and urged supporters to join Sunday's event, originally called "Wing Lai Loong" in Thai, which translates as "Run to Oust the Uncle", an apparent reference to Prayuth whom Thais have nicknamed "Uncle Tu." Thanathorn, a 41-year-old billionaire, has emerged as the most outspoken opponent of the new civilian government headed by Prayuth, 65, since an election in March 2019 that the opposition said was manipulated to favour Prayuth's pro-army party. Thanathorn was charged on Friday with breaching a law on public assembly with the December rally, and Future Forward, the political party founded by Thanathorn, faces dissolution later this month by the constitutional court. A rival event to the run was due to take place in another public park some 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) away. About 3,000 people registered to join the "Walk to Cheer Uncle" event to show support for the government and Prayuth, according to the organizers.

Thousands join Thai anti-government run as political climate simmers

<p>It wasn't only the moves to ban&nbsp;Thailand's most vocal opposition party that brought Gift onto the&nbsp;street&nbsp;for the first time.</p>

<p>The 25-year-old landscape architect was also stung by taunts that her&nbsp;generation&nbsp;was not brave enough to go beyond online comments in challenging the army-dominated establishment's enduring hold since elections to end junta rule.</p>

<p>She and other first-timers joined veterans of Bangkok's turbulent decades of&nbsp;street&nbsp;protest&nbsp;as thousands rallied at the weekend in the biggest demonstration since a 2014 coup.</p>

<p>"They say the&nbsp;new&nbsp;generation&nbsp;only exists on social media, so we're out here to show we have a voice too," said Chattip Aphibanpoonpon, who like many&nbsp;Thais goes by her nickname.</p>

<p>"The conflict used to be about people on two sides. Now it's a battle between the military and the people. It's not fair."</p>

<p>In a country long roiled by bloody&nbsp;protests and punctuated by coups in the name of ending them Saturday's peaceful rally was a reminder of the tension that is building again rapidly between the establishment and those seeking change.</p>

<p>At the forefront is 41-year-old auto-parts billionaire <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-join-biggest-protest-for-years-in-thai-capital-268301">Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit</a>, who was recently banned as a member of parliament and whose Future Forward party faces dissolution.</p>

<p>In both cases, party supporters believe the legal grounds are spurious and designed to eliminate a challenge to Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/country-now-fully-democratic-says-thai-pm-prayuth-chan-ocha-after-resigning-as-military-head-236228">Prayuth Chan-Ocha</a>, the former junta leader who stayed on after March elections the opposition says were manipulated.</p>

<p>"This is just the beginning," Thanathorn told&nbsp;protesters who spilled in afternoon sunshine across walkways and staircases between a Bangkok shopping mall and art gallery.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;protest&nbsp;was called just a day before as a "flash mob" by Thanathorn's Facebook Live and a single&nbsp;tweet&nbsp;that got nearly 67,000 retweets and 41,000 likes.</p>

<p>It is Future Forward's social media heft as well as pledges to change the army-drafted constitution and to end conscription - that have the army worried.</p>

<p>Army chief Apirat Kongsompong has said&nbsp;Thailand faces a situation of "hybrid war" against a movement he accuses of seeking to use social media to rally people against the army and the powerful palace.</p>

<p>"The young people are enthusiastic and determined and full of energy, but they don't see through politicians' tricks," said Warong Dechgitvigrom, a right-wing politician who sees Future Forward as an existential threat to&nbsp;Thailand and its monarchy.</p>

<p>Government spokeswoman<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/small-explosions-in-bangkok-as-city-hosts-asean-foreign-ministers-meet-240067"> Narumon Pinyosinwat</a> said the party should express its opinions through parliament rather than on the&nbsp;street, but she did not expect the situation to escalate.</p>

<p>The turnout was a reflection of growing political engagement among young people, but would not necessarily spiral, said Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of the political science faculty at Ubon Ratchathani University.</p>

<p>"I don’t see it becoming a serious movement like in the past or on the scale of Hong Kong," he said.</p>

<p>Widespread coverage on social media underscored the extent to which the opposition leads the government on that front.</p>

<p>Thanathorn has 1.1 million Facebook followers and 670,000 on his @Thanathorn_FWP Twitter account, compared with Prayuth's 770,000 and 55,000 for @prayutofficial on Twitter.</p>

<p>That social media heft helped Future Forward into third place in the March election, after the traditional opposition party Pheu&nbsp;Thai&nbsp;and a pro-army party backing Prayuth.</p>

<p>The question has been whether online activism would translate into a readiness to take to the&nbsp;street. And it hasn't only been establishment parties casting doubt.</p>

<p>Before Saturday's rally, veteran activist Anurak Jeantawanich challenged Future Forward supporters as "only using hashtags, but afraid to take to the&nbsp;streets". If fewer than 2,000 people showed up "you might as well just let your party be disbanded", he said.</p>

<p>Several thousand gathered, if not the 10,000 plus claimed by organisers.</p>

<p>"I'm come&nbsp;from&nbsp;social media," read a placard held by Pisit Iewlatanawadee, a 29-year-old business owner&nbsp;from&nbsp;Nakhon Pathom in central&nbsp;Thailand.</p>

<p>"We're not only good at typing," he said. "We also want to participate in opposition to authoritarian government."</p>

<p>Rafah Supanphong, 25, told Reuters: "They keep saying we are only brave on online platforms, it encouraged me to come out."</p>

<p>The younger&nbsp;protesters joined many older "red shirts" who recalled years of&nbsp;street&nbsp;clashes and bullets in their support for ousted populist prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in clashes with pro-establishment "yellow shirts".</p>

<p>At the weekend&nbsp;protest, veteran Thaksin&nbsp;protesters sat munching sticky rice&nbsp;from&nbsp;wicker containers as young professionals took selfies nearby.</p>

<p>Earlier, the Pheu&nbsp;Thai&nbsp;party of the self-exiled Thaksin said it backed the rally by "younger brother" Thanathorn.</p>

<p>A small group of police challenged the rally organisers for holding a demonstration without notice, but they made no attempt to stop it. On Monday, police said they were investigating whether the law had been broken.</p>

<p>Future Forward said it had not been a political rally so it did not need to give notice.</p>

<p>The next challenge for the authorities is a "Run Against Dictatorship" that activists are organising for January 12. A run Facebook page already has more than 28,000 likes.</p>

<p>Like many of those who joined Saturday's&nbsp;protest, Chattip is no radical tempered by hardship in a country where the traditional political fault-line has been between a Bangkok-based elite and the poorer north and northeast.</p>

<p>She works at a company that prides itself on harmonious garden and landscape designs. Her Instagram feed tracks good food, smiling friends and foreign adventures.</p>

<p>"The middle-class tend to not want to participate because we can afford to live normally no matter who the government is. But that's not the way it should be," she said.</p>

<p>"We want democracy back ... Now is the time."</p>


It wasn't only the moves to ban Thailand's most vocal opposition party that brought Gift onto the street for the first time. The 25-year-old landscape architect was also stung by taunts that her generation was not brave enough to go beyond online comments in challenging the army-dominated establishment's enduring hold since elections to end junta rule.

It wasn't only the moves to ban Thailand's most vocal opposition party that brought Gift onto the street for the first time. The 25-year-old landscape architect was also stung by taunts that her generation was not brave enough to go beyond online comments in challenging the army-dominated establishment's enduring hold since elections to end junta rule. She and other first-timers joined veterans of Bangkok's turbulent decades of street protest as thousands rallied at the weekend in the biggest demonstration since a 2014 coup. "They say the new generation only exists on social media, so we're out here to show we have a voice too," said Chattip Aphibanpoonpon, who like many Thais goes by her nickname. "The conflict used to be about people on two sides. Now it's a battle between the military and the people. It's not fair." In a country long roiled by bloody protests and punctuated by coups in the name of ending them Saturday's peaceful rally was a reminder of the tension that is building again rapidly between the establishment and those seeking change. At the forefront is 41-year-old auto-parts billionaire Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, who was recently banned as a member of parliament and whose Future Forward party faces dissolution. In both cases, party supporters believe the legal grounds are spurious and designed to eliminate a challenge to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, the former junta leader who stayed on after March elections the opposition says were manipulated. "This is just the beginning," Thanathorn told protesters who spilled in afternoon sunshine across walkways and staircases between a Bangkok shopping mall and art gallery. The protest was called just a day before as a "flash mob" by Thanathorn's Facebook Live and a single tweet that got nearly 67,000 retweets and 41,000 likes. It is Future Forward's social media heft as well as pledges to change the army-drafted constitution and to end conscription - that have the army worried. Army chief Apirat Kongsompong has said Thailand faces a situation of "hybrid war" against a movement he accuses of seeking to use social media to rally people against the army and the powerful palace. "The young people are enthusiastic and determined and full of energy, but they don't see through politicians' tricks," said Warong Dechgitvigrom, a right-wing politician who sees Future Forward as an existential threat to Thailand and its monarchy. Government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat said the party should express its opinions through parliament rather than on the street, but she did not expect the situation to escalate. The turnout was a reflection of growing political engagement among young people, but would not necessarily spiral, said Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of the political science faculty at Ubon Ratchathani University. "I don’t see it becoming a serious movement like in the past or on the scale of Hong Kong," he said. Widespread coverage on social media underscored the extent to which the opposition leads the government on that front. Thanathorn has 1.1 million Facebook followers and 670,000 on his @Thanathorn_FWP Twitter account, compared with Prayuth's 770,000 and 55,000 for @prayutofficial on Twitter. That social media heft helped Future Forward into third place in the March election, after the traditional opposition party Pheu Thai and a pro-army party backing Prayuth. The question has been whether online activism would translate into a readiness to take to the street. And it hasn't only been establishment parties casting doubt. Before Saturday's rally, veteran activist Anurak Jeantawanich challenged Future Forward supporters as "only using hashtags, but afraid to take to the streets". If fewer than 2,000 people showed up "you might as well just let your party be disbanded", he said. Several thousand gathered, if not the 10,000 plus claimed by organisers. "I'm come from social media," read a placard held by Pisit Iewlatanawadee, a 29-year-old business owner from Nakhon Pathom in central Thailand. "We're not only good at typing," he said. "We also want to participate in opposition to authoritarian government." Rafah Supanphong, 25, told Reuters: "They keep saying we are only brave on online platforms, it encouraged me to come out." The younger protesters joined many older "red shirts" who recalled years of street clashes and bullets in their support for ousted populist prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in clashes with pro-establishment "yellow shirts". At the weekend protest, veteran Thaksin protesters sat munching sticky rice from wicker containers as young professionals took selfies nearby. Earlier, the Pheu Thai party of the self-exiled Thaksin said it backed the rally by "younger brother" Thanathorn. A small group of police challenged the rally organisers for holding a demonstration without notice, but they made no attempt to stop it. On Monday, police said they were investigating whether the law had been broken. Future Forward said it had not been a political rally so it did not need to give notice. The next challenge for the authorities is a "Run Against Dictatorship" that activists are organising for January 12. A run Facebook page already has more than 28,000 likes. Like many of those who joined Saturday's protest, Chattip is no radical tempered by hardship in a country where the traditional political fault-line has been between a Bangkok-based elite and the poorer north and northeast. She works at a company that prides itself on harmonious garden and landscape designs. Her Instagram feed tracks good food, smiling friends and foreign adventures. "The middle-class tend to not want to participate because we can afford to live normally no matter who the government is. But that's not the way it should be," she said. "We want democracy back ... Now is the time."

From tweet to street: New generation joins Thai protest

<p>The leader of a new party that has challenged <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailands-opposition-parties-form-alliance-demand-junta-step-aside-206029">Thailand's military government </a>was charged on Saturday with sedition, the latest legal action facing the rising star after a disputed March election.</p>

<p>The sedition charge, which was filed by the junta, was the second criminal case opened against Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, 40, since he formed the progressive, youth-oriented Future Forward Party last year.</p>

<p>The 2015 case resurfaced after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/charges-of-cheating-amid-confusion-over-thailands-election-result-205533">Future Forward Party made</a> a surprisingly strong showing in the March 24 election, coming in third with 6.2 million votes.</p>

<p>It was still uncertain which party could form a government after the election, the first since a 2014 army coup. Final results may not be clear for weeks.</p>

<p>Future Forward has joined an opposition "democratic front" alliance that will try to form a government and block junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha from staying in power.</p>

<p>Police told Reuters the complaint dates back to 2015, when Thanathorn, who was running his family's auto parts empire at the time, allegedly "provided assistance" to a leader of protesters against the 2014 military coup who violated a junta ban on gatherings of more than five people.</p>

<p>As he left the police station, Thanathorn said the charges were politically motivated and questioned the timing: "Why does this come a week after the election?"</p>

<p>"We believe in our innocence," he told reporters, declining to comment further on the case until he submits written testimony to police, which is due by May 15.</p>

<p>"This isn't about me. This is about everyone who fights for justice," he told a sea of supporters outside.</p>

<p>They handed him flowers and cheered loudly as he emerged from the station, chanting "Thanathorn, keep going!"</p>

<p>Many wore orange clothing - the party's colour - and held up signs with "#SaveThanathorn", which is also a trending hashtag on Twitter.</p>

<p>Embassy representatives from the European Union, Germany and other countries were at the scene for observation.</p>

<p>Thanathorn is accused of breaking article 116 of the Thai criminal code, the equivalent of sedition; article 189, for assisting others who committed a serious crime; and article 215, for an assembly of more than 10 people.</p>

<p>He could face up to nine years in prison if found guilty. He will be tried in a military court.</p>

<p>According to electoral law, a criminal conviction could spell electoral disqualification for Thanathorn, who has looked set to become a member of parliament.</p>

<p>Thanathorn also faces a separate cybercrime charge over a speech he made on Facebook criticising the junta in July.</p>

<p>Prosecutors will decide on April 26 whether to put him on trial for the cybercrime charge.</p>


The leader of a new party that has challenged Thailand's military government was charged on Saturday with sedition, the latest legal action facing the rising star after a disputed March election.

The leader of a new party that has challenged Thailand's military government was charged on Saturday with sedition, the latest legal action facing the rising star after a disputed March election. The sedition charge, which was filed by the junta, was the second criminal case opened against Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, 40, since he formed the progressive, youth-oriented Future Forward Party last year. The 2015 case resurfaced after the Future Forward Party made a surprisingly strong showing in the March 24 election, coming in third with 6.2 million votes. It was still uncertain which party could form a government after the election, the first since a 2014 army coup. Final results may not be clear for weeks. Future Forward has joined an opposition "democratic front" alliance that will try to form a government and block junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha from staying in power. Police told Reuters the complaint dates back to 2015, when Thanathorn, who was running his family's auto parts empire at the time, allegedly "provided assistance" to a leader of protesters against the 2014 military coup who violated a junta ban on gatherings of more than five people. As he left the police station, Thanathorn said the charges were politically motivated and questioned the timing: "Why does this come a week after the election?" "We believe in our innocence," he told reporters, declining to comment further on the case until he submits written testimony to police, which is due by May 15. "This isn't about me. This is about everyone who fights for justice," he told a sea of supporters outside. They handed him flowers and cheered loudly as he emerged from the station, chanting "Thanathorn, keep going!" Many wore orange clothing - the party's colour - and held up signs with "#SaveThanathorn", which is also a trending hashtag on Twitter. Embassy representatives from the European Union, Germany and other countries were at the scene for observation. Thanathorn is accused of breaking article 116 of the Thai criminal code, the equivalent of sedition; article 189, for assisting others who committed a serious crime; and article 215, for an assembly of more than 10 people. He could face up to nine years in prison if found guilty. He will be tried in a military court. According to electoral law, a criminal conviction could spell electoral disqualification for Thanathorn, who has looked set to become a member of parliament. Thanathorn also faces a separate cybercrime charge over a speech he made on Facebook criticising the junta in July. Prosecutors will decide on April 26 whether to put him on trial for the cybercrime charge.

Thailand's Future Forward Party leader charged with sedition

<p>A scion of Thailand&#39;s biggest auto parts group launched a new political party in Bangkok on Thursday as an alternative to established parties, promising to bridge a festering political divide in the country.</p>

<p>Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, 39, who serves as the executive vice president and director of the Thai Summit Group, an autoparts maker, launched the &#39;Future Forward Party&#39; in Bangkok&#39;s up-and-coming Chinatown neighborhood.</p>

<p>Thanathorn said he hoped to appeal to younger voters and disenfranchised citizens.</p>

<p>&quot;Give democracy a chance,&quot; he said in English at the launch.</p>

<p>&quot;We don&#39;t need governance through guns,&quot; he added in Thai, referring to the ruling military, which took power in 2014.</p>

<p>The launch comes two weeks after Thailand&#39;s Election Commission opened registration for new political parties, one of the first signs of a halting return to democracy.</p>

<p>Thailand has been under military rule since a 2014 coup toppled an elected government.</p>

<p>Since the coup, the generals running Thailand have banned political activity. They have also repeatedly delayed a general election with the latest date pinned on February 2019.</p>

<p>The country has been largely divided since a 2006 coup against then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a businessman turned politician who gained a loyal following among rural voters but made many enemies among the military-royalist elite.</p>

<p>Following a period of democracy, the military again intervened in 2014 to topple a civilian government led by Thaksin&#39;s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.</p>

<p>Critics of the junta say it has failed to deliver on its promises and that political divisions remain steadfast.</p>

<p>Growing impatience with the junta has been manifest in protests calling for a quick return to democracy.</p>

<p>The demonstrations come as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, 63, who as army chief led the 2014 coup, appears to be undertaking his own campaign to stay on as prime minister.</p>

<p>Thanathorn, whose family also has a major stake in the Matichon Pcl, which publishes newspapers, resigned from Matichon&#39;s&#39; board on Wednesday but remains on the board of Thai Summit, a privately held company.</p>

<p>Some have questioned the family&#39;s ties to Thaksin. Thanatorn&#39;s uncle, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, held various senior positions in Thaksin&#39;s now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party.</p>

<p>Thanatorn has been described by some as the &quot;next Thaksin&quot;, but on Thursday said he did not side with any existing group.</p>

<p>&quot;We have our own stance,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>He did not list his party&#39;s policies because formal political campaigning is still banned by the junta, but said he hopes to attract &quot;ordinary people&quot; to support the party.</p>

<p>&quot;People who are not famous ... but who want to shape our country&#39;s future together,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Thanathorn introduced other party co-founders on Thursday, including a filmmaker and a number of activists involved in LGBT and environmental causes, among other issues.</p>

<p>Party co-founder Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, a law lecturer at Bangkok&#39;s Thammasat University, said the party hopes to transcend Thailand&#39;s political divide, a sentiment echoed by the student-led groups that have held anti-junta protests across Bangkok in recent weeks.</p>

<p>But some say the party might find it difficult to appeal to grassroots voters.</p>

<p>&quot;Will they, academics and NGOs ... be able to connect with grassroots people, which is a large part of the electoral base?,&quot; asked one Twitter user.</p>


'Give democracy a chance,' Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit said in English at the launch

A scion of Thailand's biggest auto parts group launched a new political party in Bangkok on Thursday as an alternative to established parties, promising to bridge a festering political divide in the country. Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, 39, who serves as the executive vice president and director of the Thai Summit Group, an autoparts maker, launched the 'Future Forward Party' in Bangkok's up-and-coming Chinatown neighborhood. Thanathorn said he hoped to appeal to younger voters and disenfranchised citizens. "Give democracy a chance," he said in English at the launch. "We don't need governance through guns," he added in Thai, referring to the ruling military, which took power in 2014. The launch comes two weeks after Thailand's Election Commission opened registration for new political parties, one of the first signs of a halting return to democracy. Thailand has been under military rule since a 2014 coup toppled an elected government. Since the coup, the generals running Thailand have banned political activity. They have also repeatedly delayed a general election with the latest date pinned on February 2019. The country has been largely divided since a 2006 coup against then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a businessman turned politician who gained a loyal following among rural voters but made many enemies among the military-royalist elite. Following a period of democracy, the military again intervened in 2014 to topple a civilian government led by Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra. Critics of the junta say it has failed to deliver on its promises and that political divisions remain steadfast. Growing impatience with the junta has been manifest in protests calling for a quick return to democracy. The demonstrations come as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, 63, who as army chief led the 2014 coup, appears to be undertaking his own campaign to stay on as prime minister. Thanathorn, whose family also has a major stake in the Matichon Pcl, which publishes newspapers, resigned from Matichon's' board on Wednesday but remains on the board of Thai Summit, a privately held company. Some have questioned the family's ties to Thaksin. Thanatorn's uncle, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, held various senior positions in Thaksin's now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party. Thanatorn has been described by some as the "next Thaksin", but on Thursday said he did not side with any existing group. "We have our own stance," he said. He did not list his party's policies because formal political campaigning is still banned by the junta, but said he hopes to attract "ordinary people" to support the party. "People who are not famous ... but who want to shape our country's future together," he said. Thanathorn introduced other party co-founders on Thursday, including a filmmaker and a number of activists involved in LGBT and environmental causes, among other issues. Party co-founder Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, a law lecturer at Bangkok's Thammasat University, said the party hopes to transcend Thailand's political divide, a sentiment echoed by the student-led groups that have held anti-junta protests across Bangkok in recent weeks. But some say the party might find it difficult to appeal to grassroots voters. "Will they, academics and NGOs ... be able to connect with grassroots people, which is a large part of the electoral base?," asked one Twitter user.

Thai auto heir launches new party, promises to heal political rift