VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Thailand's Constitutional Court ruled on Friday (Feb 21) to dissolve opposition Future Forward Party over an election loan from its leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit to finance its political campaign. The verdict came after the Election Commission filed a court case alleging the party violated Section 72 of the 2017 Political Party Organic Law. The section prohibits political parties or individuals holding a position in any political party from receiving donated money, assets or other benefits with financial value when they know or are expected to know it was acquired illegally, or suspect it was obtained from an illegal source. The allegation came after the party accepted a 191 million baht (US$6 million) loan from its leader Thanathorn to fund its election campaign ahead of the general election on Mar 24 last year, which concluded with a victory for pro-military party Palang Pracharat. According to the verdict, 16 executive members of the Future Forward Party have been banned from political activities over the next 10 years, starting from Feb 21. They cannot run in future elections, register a new political party or take part in any new political party until 2030. The affected members include party founder and leader Thanathorn and co-founder Piyabutr Saengkanokkul.(CNA)