There was speculation on Tuesday that the EC would ask the court to rule on the dissolution of Thai Raksa Chart over its controversial nomination of Princess Ubolratana as its sole prime ministerial candidate.

Thai Raksa Chart will on Wednesday file a protest with the EC, asking for its explanation to be heard, the party’s chief legal adviser, Pichit Chuenban, said on Tuesday.

Pichit said that although the EC is empowered by law to seek Constitutional Court verdicts on alleged wrongdoings involving political parties, it could not do so without gathering sufficient evidence from the accused party. He cited the Political Parties Act and the Constitution.

“Evidence gathering should not be done in a one-sided way. The international standard must be followed to ensure fairness to all,” the legal expert said.

The EC on Tuesday did not reach any conclusion on whether to approach the Constitutional Court for dissolution of Thai Raksa Chart. EC president Ittiporn Boonpracong said the agency would continue discussions on the matter on Wednesday.

On Monday, Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution, submitted a petition for the EC to investigate Thai Raksa Chart’s nomination of Princess Ubolratana. He asked the EC to refer the case to the Constitutional Court seeking dissolution of the party, for violating the law and regulation that prohibits political parties from using the Royal family in their election campaigning.

The party announced last Friday that the 67-year-old Princess, who is His Majesty the King’s elder sister, was nominated as its PM candidate. On Friday night, King Maha Vajiralongkorn said in a statement broadcast nationwide that Princess Ubolratana’s candidacy for prime minister was “extremely inappropriate and unconstitutional”.

On Monday, the EC disqualified Ubolratana from running for prime minister, because “every member of the Royal Family comes within the application of the same rule requiring the monarchy to be above politics and to be politically neutral”.

WITH Thai Raksa Chart facing the threat of party dissolution, experts believe this could affect the pro-Shinawatra camp’s election strategy and cost it a substantial number of party-list MPs.

There was speculation yesterday that the Election Commission (EC) might ask the Constitutional Court to rule on the dissolution of Thai Raksa Chart Party over its controversial nomination of Princess Ubolratana as its sole prime ministerial candidate.

The EC held a meeting on the issue yesterday and is expected to form a committee to investigate the case in response to petitions that the controversial nomination may have violated the political party law, which prohibits any political activity involving the monarchy.

Social media was abuzz with comments since 3.10pm yesterday that the EC had made a resolution, but at around 5pm the EC chairman told reporters via a Line message that the issue was still being considered.

The EC yesterday had yet to reach any conclusion on whether to approach the Constitutional Court for dissolution of Thai Raksa Chart. EC chief Ittiporn Boonpracong said the agency would continue discussions on the matter today. An EC statement said they would hold a press conference when the issue was finalised.

Thai Raksa Chart emerged on the political scene late last year after the junta lifted its ban on political activities. However, most of the party members are familiar faces from Pheu Thai and other parties linked to fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

It is widely believed that this party was created by the Shinawatra camp due to the new election rules. Under the single-ballot system, bigger parties such as Pheu Thai are at a disadvantage, as they will gain fewer seats in Parliament despite victories in individual constituencies.

Thai Raksa Chart is meant to accumulate party-list seats, while its sister party, Pheu Thai, will focus on the constituencies.

Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of the political science faculty from Ubon Ratchathani University, said yesterday that the Shinawatra camp could find itself in trouble if Thai Raksa Chart were dissolved.

“The camp’s main players are mostly Thai Raksa Chart’s party-list candidates,” he said. “Now, there’s not much they can do to fix this because the MP registration period is over. It’s now too late to move these candidates to other related parties such as Pheu Chart.”

Pheu Chart Party is another Shinawatra-linked party that is co-led by red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan. It has been lying quiet for the past couple of months, while Thai Raksa Chart took the limelight. However, Pheu Chart has fielded 499 candidates for the 500 available seats.

Another option for the Shinawatra-camp is to create alliances with smaller parties after the elections, he said.

A political scientist, Stithorn Thananithichot, from King Prajadhipok’s Institute, believes that even if Thai Raksa Chart were dissolved now, it is still early enough for the camp to make adjustments.

“It’s still early and they have the time to come up with a strategy to win the votes Thai Raksa Chart was expected to,” the expert said. “And this is 3 million to 3.5 million votes we’re talking about.”

If Thai Raksa Chart really does get pushed out of the game, then Stithorn said Pheu Thai could still join up with the four other pro-democracy parties – Pheu Chart, Prachachart, Seree Ruam Thai and Future Forward.

Each of these has their pros and cons. For instance, he said, though Pheu Chart is directly connected to the Shinawatra camp, the party is sort of half-baked so it is difficult to tell if it can actually win 3.5 million votes.

Meanwhile, Future Forward has greater potential, he said, but it is too independent and has a clear stance when it comes to ideology.

Though Prachachart Party has also been linked with the Shinawatras, it was designed mainly to champion the causes of the three deep-South provinces. Hence, Stithorn said he was unsure if the party could broaden its horizons and cover the entire country.

As for Seree Ruam Thai, he said though it has a strong leader in Seripisut Temiyavet, it was not certain if it could win 3.5 million votes.

Stithorn said Thai Raksa Chart could limit the damage if its party members opted to leave the party and joined other pro-democracy parties to gain votes.

Thai Raksa Chart, meanwhile, vowed to continue campaigning for votes even though its controversial nomination was shot down.

Its leader, Preechaphol Pongpanit, was present yesterday at the party’s headquarters at around 1pm, but the only message he gave was that the party respected His Majesty’s command to bar the Princess from entering politics.

Appearing in public for the first time since last Friday, when he had submitted the controversial nomination to the EC, Preechapol met the press by performing a “wai” above his head.

“All our party members have accepted His Majesty’s command,” he said. “We will heed this command with all loyalty to His Majesty and to the Royal Family.”

He also said that his party would show no opposition to the EC decision to disqualify its PM nomination. He was at the headquarters to chair an executive meeting, which wrapped up yesterday evening with the members refusing to speak to the press.

Meanwhile, Chaturon Chaisang, chair of Thai Raksa Chart’s strategic committee, said in a comment on Facebook yesterday that he did not believe the party would be dissolved easily.

“Who says ‘fleas jump out of dying dogs?’ But if it were really [dissolved], I will stay till the end,” he posted. However, in an earlier post yesterday, Chaturon said that he had not participated in the submission of Ubolratana’s nomination last Friday and would not express an opinion. “But when I saw my political friends saying that they were ‘really happy’, I became very concerned,” he said.

Meanwhile, junta leader Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday declined to comment on the issue surrounding the nomination of the Princess.

The matter is the responsibility of related agencies, he said, adding that he wanted bygones to be bygones.

“Please don’t make any trouble anymore about anything,” he said in a weekly press briefing after the Cabinet meeting. “Also, we have too many false news and rumours. Just don’t get too easily convinced.”

In an apparent retaliation, the broadcaster is planning to retroactively seek more than Bt100 million in compensation from the NBTC over its decision to twice temporarily close down the TV station – in 2014 and in 2017 – and to suspend many of its programmes on 17 other occasions.

“We will appeal against the NBTC’s latest order and we will also seek compensation for damages caused by its previous orders,” Voice TV chief executive officer Makin Petplai said yesterday.

He lamented that his station had provided good cooperation to the NBTC in the past, despite disagreeing with its decisions, in the hope that it would be able to run its operations smoothly.

“But we have been subjected to discriminatory treatment again. So, we believe it is high time that we appealed to the Central Administrative Court in order to protect press freedom and define the scope of the NBTC’s power,” Makin said.

He said press freedom has faced an extremely challenging situation since the 2014 coup.

Makin said as the country was now counting down to the election, it was important that comprehensive and quality information be given to people in a timely manner.

He was speaking soon after the NBTC yesterday issued an administrative order suspending the licence of Voice TV for 15 days on grounds that it had allegedly aired provocative content. With the suspension of the licence, Voice TV – which is seen as close to the Shinawatras – will have to go off air.

NBTC Commissioner Lt-General Perapong Manakit did not reveal what exactly was the provocative content broadcast by Voice TV.

He merely said that the content in question was aired on Tonight Thailand on December 16, and on Wakeup News on January 21, 28, 29, and February 4.

Perapong insisted that the NBTC had not been ordered by any party to issue the order against Voice TV and that the regulator had treated all broadcasters fairly.

The NBTC’s latest order against Voice TV was covered by the Broadcasting Act of 2551, including Article 37, which bans the airing of content deemed to affect national security or peace or morality of the people.

Appearing in public for the first time since last Friday, when he submitted the PM candidate nomination to Election Commission (EC), party leader Preechapol Pongpanit met the press by performing a “wai” above his head.

“All our party members have accepted His Majesty the King’s command [that prohibits Ubolratana from entering politics],” he said. “We will heed this command with all loyalty to His Majesty and to the Royal Family.”

He also said that his party will show no opposition to the EC’s decision to disqualify its PM nomination.

Princess Ubolratana is the elder sister of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the eldest child of late King Rama IX. Though she relinquished her royal titles nearly five decades ago when she married an American, the royal command said she was still a member of the Royal Family and hence should stay above politics.

Chaturon Chaisang, chair of Thai Raksa Chart’s strategic committee, said in a comment on Facebook on Tuesday that he does not believe the party will be dissolved easily.

“Who says ‘fleas jump out of dying dogs?’ But if it is really [dissolved], I will stay till the end,” he posted.

However, in an earlier post on Tuesday, Chaturon said that he did not participate in the submission of Ubolratana’s nomination last Friday and would not express an opinion. “But when I saw my political friends saying that they were ‘really happy’, I became very concerned,” he said.

Meanwhile, party members showed up at the party headquarters on Tuesday to attend an executive meeting. Preechapol said the meeting was being held to determine the direction the party’s campaigning would take in the upcoming elections.

“We cannot stop solving people’s problems. We are now very motivated,” he added.

The party was initially scheduled to hold an executive meeting and a press conference on Monday. However, it was later revealed that there were too few members to form a quorum, so the meeting had to be postponed.

Citing the King’s royal command issued late on Friday, the Election Commission (EC) did not include Princess Ubolratana’s name among prime ministerial candidates announced yesterday

The statement, signed by EC chief Ittiporn Boonpracong, listed 69 PM candidates nominated by 45 political parties.

“[The list] excludes the name of Princess Ubolratana, nominated by Thai Raksa Chart Party,” the press release read. “Members of the Royal Family are above politics and politically non-partisan. They cannot take up a political position, as it will be against the Constitution and tradition as cited by the King’s royal command [issued on Friday],” the statement said.

Ubolratana is the elder sister of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the eldest child of late King Rama IX.

Though she relinquished her royal titles nearly five decades ago when she married an American, the royal command said she was still a member of the Royal Family and hence should stay above politics.

Her short stint in politics appears to have set off a political tsunami. Apart from stirring much controversy both online and offline, inside and outside Thailand, it has also given rise to public fears of another coup. During the weekend, some netizens reported sightings of military tanks on Bangkok streets.

The Army later denied rumours of a coup, saying the military vehicles were being moved for training purposes. Later, it even placed “For Training” banners on the tanks.

Meanwhile, the EC yesterday decided to set up a committee to investigate Thai Raksa Chart’s controversial nomination. The panel will decide if the EC should take the case to the Constitutional Court and seek dissolution of the party, a source close to the EC said. Since the case is sensitive and involves the monarchy, the five- to seven-member panel will have a majority of non-EC staff. The agency will discuss today who will be on the panel.

It is widely believed that Thai Raksa Chart, which has links to former fugitive premier Thaksin Shinawatra, will have a short lifespan following its decision to choose a Royal Family member as its PM candidate.

Thai Raksa Chart’s offices were quiet yesterday, with no sign of its leader Preechaphol Pongpanit. The party was scheduled to hold an executive meeting as well as a press conference. However, it was later revealed that there were too few members available to form a quorum, so the meeting had to be put off.

The party also cancelled the promised press briefing at the last minute.

Meanwhile, party staff decided to put up a display of King Rama X yesterday. Such displays are common among public companies and state agencies in Thailand as it is seen as a formal way of expressing loyalty to the monarchy.

Meanwhile, social activist Srisuwan Janya yesterday called on the EC to consider dissolving Thai Raksa Chart to set an example, as it had inappropriately relied on royalty in politics.

He submitted a petition to the EC and urged the agency to take the case to the Constitutional Court.

He said things could get complicated if the party gets dissolved after MPs get seats in Parliament.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who is in charge of the government’s legal affairs, said yesterday that Thai Raksa Chart could face legal consequences if its decision to nominate the Princess had been influenced by outsiders. He was apparently referring to Thaksin.

However, Wissanu said, since the party could not be charged with lese majeste, he was not sure what charges could be pressed against it.

In a related development, Thai Raksa Chart member and law expert Ruangkrai Leekitwatana also filed a petition with the EC yesterday challenging junta leader Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s status as Phalang Pracharat’s PM candidate.

He said the junta chief’s candidacy was illegitimate as Phalang Pracharat had agreed to nominate him even before they had sought his permission, he said, explaining it was against the party’s regulations.

“If it were true I would have informed [the public]. There is a procedure to remove any [military] officer. It’s not like I can use Article 44 [to order a removal],” General Prayut said in response to the rumour.

The rumour coincided with similar rumours of a possible counter coup d’etat amid uncertainty over the political situation. The nomination of Princess Ubolratana, HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s elder sister, as a candidate for premier was proposed by Thai Raksa Chart Party, which is allied to the powerful Shinawatra clan.

Hours after her nomination had been submitted to the Electoral Commission for approval, a royal command from the King appeared to put the brakes on her unprecedented political aspirations. The King’s command said the monarchy was above politics and described his sister’s candidacy as “highly inappropriate”.

Defence Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich said Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan had insisted that there would be no counter-coup as some were speculating.

The military has 100 per cent unity and is a major institution for taking care of national security, he added.

Meanwhile, the assistant secretary-general of the Secretariat of the Cabinet, Savitri Chamnarnkit, yesterday filed charges with the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) against individuals alleged to have circulated a falsified junta order. Pol Colonel Siriwat Deepor, the TCSD spokesman, accepted the case and said he would set up a team to investigate and find the culprits, who may have violated Article 14(2) of the Computer Crime Act.

The Article states that those involved in importing false computer data to a computer system that is likely to damage the country’s security or cause panic among the public shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than five years or a fine of not more than Bt100,000 or both.

The false order, which indicated that active post commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force were to be removed, had spread on social network platforms during the weekend.

It also claimed the transfers were royally approved and promulgated in the Royal Gazette.

In a related development, the National Council for Peace and Order set up a war room to closely monitor current movements that could instigate chaos in the country, a junta source said.