Thai Anti-Graft Body Investigates Lawmakers Over Royal Insults Law

Thailand's anti-graft body is investigating 44 members of the Move Forward party for supporting legislation aimed at amending a law that protects the monarchy from insults. This follows the party's dissolution by court order. The law in question, Article 112, is highly strict and critics say it stifles political opposition.

Thailand's anti-graft body announced on Friday that it is investigating 44 members of the disbanded Move Forward party after a complaint seeking their lifetime bans from politics for supporting legislation to amend a law against royal insults.

The investigation comes less than a month after a court ordered the dissolution of Move Forward, the surprise winners of last year's election, due to their campaign pledge to amend the lese-majeste law, which protects the monarchy from criticism.

Among the 44 under investigation are 25 current lawmakers of the People's Party, Move Forward's latest iteration and the largest party in parliament. Thailand's lese-majeste law, or Article 112 of the criminal code, is one of the strictest in the world, carrying punishments of up to 15 years in jail for each perceived insult to the royal family. Critics argue it has been misused to stifle opposition.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission, which covers more than just graft, said no charges had been filed and not all 44 would be summoned immediately. 'We have started calling relevant individuals to hear the facts,' deputy secretary-general Sarote Phuengrampan told Reuters.

'This step is to collect evidence, but no one has been charged yet.' Should sufficient evidence of unethical behavior be found, individuals could be charged and would have the opportunity to present a defense before a decision on prosecution is made. If the Supreme Court finds them guilty, they could be banned from politics for life.

This marks a continuation of political tension, as conservative activists brought the latest case in February, just two days after the Constitutional Court ordered Move Forward to drop its campaign to change the lese-majeste law. Move Forward's policies, such as military reform and dismantling business monopolies, garnered significant urban and youth support but clashed with powerful interests in Thailand. Senior People's Party lawmaker Sirikanya Tansakul said she was preparing a legal defense and was not worried about a lifetime ban.

'What's more concerning is that an unfavorable decision would set a new precedent: trying to amend can mean a serious ethical violation,' Tansakul said. 'Amending section 112 or any law would be impossible.'

(With inputs from agencies.)