ISTANBUL
The UN Human Rights Commissioner on Thursday condemned Thailand’s decision to dissolve the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) and exclude its leaders from politics for several years.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, described the law as a worrying undermining of democratic processes and political pluralism.
Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday found the MFP, which won the most seats in the last election, guilty of endangering the constitutional monarchy and national security as it pushed for reform of the country’s lese majeste law.
Lèse majesté is the crime of insulting or disrespecting a reigning monarch or sovereign authority.
Turk said UN human rights organizations have long expressed concern that the ban on lese majeste is inconsistent with the country’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and needs to be reviewed.
“This decision seriously undermines fundamental freedoms of expression and association, as well as people’s right to participate in public affairs and political life in Thailand,” he said. “No party or politician should ever be subjected to such penalties for peacefully advocating for legal reform, especially in support of human rights.”
Turk called on the Thai government to ensure a “vibrant, strong and inclusive democracy” that respects the rights to freedom of expression and association, and to end the use of lese majeste laws to suppress critical voices.
In addition to dissolving the party, the court on Wednesday imposed a ten-year ban on its officials from engaging in politics.
The Move Forward Party is the ninth major political party to be dissolved in Thailand since 2007.
Before last year’s elections, the party had campaigned for changes to the lèse majesté law, which protects the king from criticism if he forms the government.
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