BANGKOK (THAILAND) – A Thai court has ordered opposition politician and leading government critic Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit to remove allegations that he posted on social media that the state’s coronavirus vaccine policy is opaque and unfairly favours a company owned by the king.
However, Thanathorn’s Progressive Movement denied the videos were illegal and requested YouTube and Facebook to preserve freedom of expression.
Thailand’s Digital Ministry said the Criminal Court ruled that Thanathorn’s posts on social media and his movement’s website could affect national security.
The videos pulls up Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government for lack of transparency in allowing Siam Bioscience, which is owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, to supply most doses despite a lack of vaccine experience.
Critics say former junta leader Prayuth rigged votes last year to retain power and have broken a national taboo by increasingly criticising the monarchy.
Thanathorn’s movement said it had not received the ruling. “We continue to stress that the content is not false or a threat to national security,” tweeted Pannika Wanich, a prominent Progressive Movement member.
