Reuters has gone out on something of a political limb before the Pita case going to the Constitutional Court to contend that the role of the monarchy in Thailand is at the core of a looming deadlock that could tip Southeast Asias second-largest economy into crisis, with reformers once again vying to dislodge the grip on power of the royalist military establishment.

The report argues: The main reason is that part of Move Forwards political platform is the once-unthinkable proposal to amend Thailands lese majeste law, Article 112 of the criminal code. It says the idea is so radical that minority parties and many members of the appointed Senate have vowed to block Pita from becoming prime minister.

While King Vajiralongkorn has no role in choosing a government, [and] has remained silent on the lese majeste issue since the election, theres a whiff of interest. Reuters adds: The Royal Palace did not respond to a request for comment.

Whats the big deal for the old, grey ones? Reuters says:

Move Forward&#...

As widely expected, the juntas Election Commission has done as it is meant to: it has decided to submit a petition to the Constitutional Court seeking the disqualification of PM-hopeful Pita Limjaroenrat over alleged media shareholding.

Thai PBS reports:

The EC, at its meeting this morning, agreed with its fact-finding committees conclusion that there is sufficient evidence to prove that Pita owned 42,000 shares in iTV, a media company, when he registered his election candidacy.

The ECs decision comes one day ahead of the joint sitting of the House and Senate to select a new prime minister for Thailand.

The move is designed to prevent Pitas election as prime minister and/or to give unelected senators more grist for their anti-Pita mill, probably convincing more of these junta representatives to vote against Pita.

A report states that the EC is making the case for the Constitutional Court to disqualify Pita as MP under the Constitutions Sections 98 (3) and 101 (6). That is, the juntas constitution:

Section 98

A person under any of the following prohibitions shall be the person who is prohibited from exercising the...

As the old guard rallies to prevent political change, it is disintegrating in massive levels of corruption, illegality, and avarice. Can more snouts fit in this trough? Can more damage be done? Sadly it can.

While the regimes ruling class supporters are up to their armpits in corrupt money, the regime is continuing on with its assigned task of erasing criticism of the monarch.

The ghastly reality of vast corruption is protected by harassing children and putting them in jail.

Read the two recent stories at Prachatai on how the evil treatment of Thanalop Phalanchai, charged with lese majeste as a 14 year-old and locked up for 51 days in pre-trial detention at the Ban Pranee Juvenile Vocational Training Center for Girls. Juvenile facilities are not usually meant to torture or neglect children, but when Thanalop was released she was covered in sores and spots, indicating deliberate neglect....