Bangkok: Mr. Srisuwan Janya, leader of the Love the Nation Love the Country Organization, has filed a petition with the registrar of political parties and the Election Commission to initiate an investigation into the case of "Mr. S.T.R." This individual, not being a member of any political party, is alleged to have exerted undue influence over certain political parties, potentially compromising their independence either directly or indirectly. The investigation will determine whether this constitutes a violation of Section 28 and/or Section 29 of the Political Party Act B.E. 2560.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Srisuwan highlighted that some major political parties permitted a former male prisoner, previously convicted on charges of corruption or abuse of power, to influence party activities. This individual, identified as Mr. S.T.R., participated in media presentations and interviews, notably on May 27, 2015, at the ONCB office in Bangkok, and on the Nation TV program on May 30, 2015. These actions are viewed as a potential breach of the Political Party Act, Section 24 (2).
Mr. Srisuwan further detailed instances where Mr. S.T.R. requested the Ministry of Interior to return to the core political party to form a government, which has since been realized. Additionally, Mr. S.T.R. engaged in discussions at the "55 Years Nation Exclusive Talk: Breaking Through Thailand's Crisis - Chapter 1" event on July 9, 2015, and participated in a discussion on the Trump tax response plan with leaders of various political parties on July 11, 2015. These actions have sparked unprecedented criticism within Thai society.
The behavior of Mr. S.T.R. and the involved political parties could be seen as violating Sections 28 and 29 of the Political Party Act of 2017. Violations could lead to severe penalties, including the possible dissolution of the political party as ordered by the Constitutional Court per Section 92(3).
Furthermore, Mr. S.T.R., not being a party member but exhibiting behavior that could be interpreted as controlling or leading a political party, may be violating Section 108. This carries potential penalties of imprisonment ranging from 5 to 10 years, fines between 100,000 to 200,000 baht, or both. The court also holds the authority to revoke the right of Mr. S.T.R. to run for election.