Piyabutr exits Nitirat to take political plunge
Law academic Piyabutr Saengkanokkul has resigned from the progressive Nitirat group to enter politics as part of the Future Forward Party.
The 36-year-old academic from Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law was a member of the Nitirat group, an association of progressive law academics known for their activism against Article 112 of the Criminal Code or the lèse majesté law. The group was active from 2010-13 after the 2006 coup.
During the launch of the Future Forward Party on Thursday, Piyabutr explained that his stance against the law was aimed at seeking the elimination of laws that could be used to destroy rivals.
He admitted that he could not guarantee whether his idea would be advocated by his new party because policy decisions would be made by a resolution of party members.
The Future Forward Party officially launched on Thursday under the leadership of young, auto-parts industry tycoon Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, and Piyabutr, with a clear agenda to promote a non-military, participatory democracy.