US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller made it known that the recent legal cases filed against Thailand’s prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat are being monitored by Washington.
Miller was referring to the two complaints filed against the Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate.
The first complaint involves his controversial media shares filed in May while the second complaint accused the embattled frontrunner of attempting to overthrow the monarchy due to his party’s declared aim to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese-majeste law filed last week.
In a press briefing held in Washington on Monday, the 17th of July, Miller claimed the United States does not support any particular party or politician, but made it clear it is closely watching the post-election developments including the legal system in the Southeast Asian nation.
“Let me say a few things. First, the United States doesn’t have a preferred outcome in the Thai election…opportunity for Thailand to demonstrate its commitment to democracy,’’ Miller said.
When asked to comment on how the US will react to the possibility of Pita being disqualified from office, Miller said he would not speculate on things that have not yet occurred.
‘’I don’t want to speculate about how we might react to events…the recent developments are of concern to us,’’ Miller added.
Pita will make his second attempt to win a prime ministerial vote in Parliament on Wednesday.
The vote will be held on the same day the court is expected to decide whether to accept one of the cases related to his controversial media shares.
The embattled prime ministerial hopeful said Move Forward Party is willing to adjust its ambitious reforms if he becomes premier but will not back down on a plan to change the lèse-majesté law or the law that forbids insulting the monarchy, which has been present in Thai criminal codes since the early 1900s.
