Thailand has long been torn between a conservative establishment seeking to preserve the power and status of the monarchy versus those who are demanding reforms to bring greater democracy and to reduce the sway of royalty and the armed forces. On Wednesday, the progressive Move Forward Party was ordered dissolved by the constitutional court. Its former leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, was banned from politics for 10 years along with another 10 party leaders.
The judges had ruled earlier in the year that the party's call for reforming the lese majeste law, which carries a jail sentence of up to 15 years for insulting the king or other royals, amounted to seeking the destruction of the monarchy.
