Anti-junta leader warns of protest

Bloomberg

His party took third place in Thailand’s disputed national elections, now Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a staunch critic of the junta, sees protesters returning to the streets if the military establishment escalates its campaign against the country’s opposition.
A tycoon-turned-politician, Thanathorn invigorated millions with his pledge to restore democracy to Thailand after launching the Future Forward party just a year ago.
For the ruling military that wrested power from a democratically-elected government in a coup 2014, he’s been a threat ever since.
Even as the military continues to tighten its grip on the country, Future Forward is vying to form a government against the pro-junta Palang Pracharath party.
Authorities filed charges against Thanathorn for allegedly providing assistance to an anti-military protest leader — a crime that carries with it a years-long jail sentence. The military government has said the sedition allegation isn’t a political case but rather has been made by the junta legal officer in a private capacity.
“I’m prepared for the worst. I’m not going to flee,” Thanathorn said from his office in a Bangkok skyscraper that carries the namesake of the family business. “But if they have some sense, they’re not going to persecute me. People need change and no one can stop that.”
As discussions over the formation of a coalition continue — months after the March 24 poll — it’s looking more likely that pro-military alliance led by Palang Pracharath could lead the next government.
But there are fears an unruly and unstable coalition may struggle to survive, sparking fresh violence following the longest period of military rule in modern Thai history.
“When all options are exhausted and when parliament can’t function, there could be street protests,” said Thanathorn. “There’s nothing wrong with protesting, and protesting isn’t the equivalent of chaos.” Regional group Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights has meanwhile urged the Thai authorities to “end judicial harassment of opposition.”