A group of political activists protesting what they see as an unnecessary delay in confirming the results of Thailand’s general election will rally today. Nation Thailand reports that pro-democracy group 24 June Democracy plans to gather outside the Election Commission in the Laksi district of the capital from around 1.00pm.
The group is named after the June 24, 1932 revolution that changed Thailand from absolute to constitutional monarchy. It says today’s rally is to protect democracy and support Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat in his bid for PM. The Move Forward Party won the May 14 election, with the Pheu Thai Party coming in second.
Activists are frustrated at what they see as an unnecessarily long delay in confirming the election results. Posting on Facebook, the group says it plans to submit a letter to the commission calling for the results to be formally ratified immediately. The group also wants to see complaints about Pita holding shares in a media company dismissed.
Critics of the Move Forward leader have accused him of owning 42,000 shares in ITV Plc. Thailand’s constitution prohibits MPs from standing for election if they hold shares in media companies. However, Pita supporters see it as a personal attack on him, which they say is being orchestrated by the outgoing administration to prevent the Move Forward leader becoming PM.
“These people want to stop Pita from becoming Thailand’s next PM despite Move Forward Party gaining the most MP seats from the May 14 general election. They are abusing the law to obstruct the process of democracy and ignore the people’s resolution.”
Pita himself issued a statement earlier this week, accusing those who brought the complaint against him of trying to prevent him taking the top job. He points out that the shares, which he has now disposed of, were in a company that has not operated in the media sector since 2007.
He adds that he inherited the shares following his father’s death and has now transferred them to others in order to put an end to the matter.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
