Rising Thai political star under fire
BANGKOK: Young people line up to take selfies with him. His hashtags are trending. And when billionaire Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit promises an end to Thailand’s military “dictatorship”, supporters of his Future Forward Party roar their approval.
The 40-year-old heir to an auto parts fortune is a political newcomer and social media star who has energised young voters ahead of March 24 elections, the first since a coup in 2014.
“I urge our ‘Futuristas’ to campaign against the junta leader coming back as a prime minister,” Thanathorn said at a rally on Saturday.
His message has drawn the attention of police, who want to prosecute him under the Computer Crime Act for criticising the junta in a Facebook video in June. If found guilty of uploading false information, he could face up to five years in prison.
He denies wrongdoing and will
meet today with prosecutors who will decide whether to take the case to court.
Thanathorn also faces a lobbyist’s petition asking the Election
Commission to disqualify him as a candidate.
These moves, he said, are a sign that his left-wing party is worrying those who want to see the military retain broad power.
“It’s fear. Nobody thought we’d come this far.
“This is dictatorship’s last struggle for life,” he said. — Reuters