Thai court disqualifies red-shirt leader as MP

Bangkok, May 18 (Xinhua-ANI): Thailand's Constitution Court on Friday disqualified Jatuporn Prompan, a key leader of the red- shirt movement, for the ruling Pheu Thai party-list member of parliament, Thai News Agency reported.

The verdict was delivered with a number of red-shirt leaders and supporters showing up at court to give Jatuporn moral support.

Jatuporn said he accepted the court's ruling, which was anticipated.

The court's ruling upheld the decision of the Election Commission (EC) which recommended his disqualification.

The EC last year ruled that Jatuporn lost his party membership for failing to vote in the July 3, 2011 general election because he was in jail weeks before the poll.

Jatuporn was detained in Bangkok Remand Prison on charges of terrorism, and the court rejected his request to go to the polling station.

Loss of his political party membership means that Jatuporn has lost a necessary qualification for being a member of parliament.

Pheu Thai party swept to power after winning the general election and Yingluck Shinwatra, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra 's sister, became prime minister. (Xinhua-ANI)

null