88 student organisations and activist groups from 19 universities across the country issued a joint statement raising “serious concerns” about the effect of the Constitutional Court’s decision to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP) and ban its leaders from politics for 10 years on the stability of the legislative process and freedom of expression in Thailand.

Move Forward Party's supporters gathered at the party's headquarters at the Future Forward building to watch the live broadcast of the Constitutional Court ruling on the party's dissolution.

The statement said that the ruling violated the rights of the 14 million people who voted for the MFP in the May 2023 general election. It noted that the dissolution of a political party and banning party leaders from running in elections affect democratic principles, the balances of power in the legislative process, and the citizens who expressed their views.

It said that, by ruling that the MFP committed treason in proposing to amend the royal defamation law, the Court has shown that there can be no discussion of the law and the relationship between the monarchy and national security, a precedence that will prevent the law’s amendment, setting the stage for more prosecutions and detentions under its terms as well as further conflict, hatred, and division in society.

“The Constitutional Court should be an organisation that protects the Constitution and constitutional rights. Instead, it is an organisation that expands state power and limits people’s rights and freedoms,” said the statement.  It added that the Court’s failure to protect people’s rights and freedoms and its use of arbitrary standards have damaged public trust in the institution, causing alarm and raising questions.  This outcome, the statement continued, has caused real damage to the democratic regime with the King as the Head of State and its “main institution.”

The signatories stated their belief that for social stability toprevail, people’s rights and freedoms must be respected and political actions must  based on transparency, justice, and equality.

“We will continue fighting for democracy even without the Move Forward Party. We will stand by our dream of making Thailand a democracy where the people have rights, freedoms and truly hold sovereign power,” said the statement.

The MFP, the largest opposition party which emerged with the highest number of seats following the 2023 general election, was dissolved on Wednesday (7 August) after the Constitutional Court ruled that it had committed treason by campaigning to amend the royal defamation law. Its 11 executive board members, including former leader and Prime Minister candidate Pita Limjaroenrat, are banned from running in elections, forming a political party, or serving as executive board members in another party for 10 years.