Videos and pictures have been circulating on social media which shows Thanathorn Jeungrungruangkit, founder and leader of the Future Forward party participating in red-shirt protests back in 2010. Is the picture real, and was Mr. Thanathorn really a red shirt before he shifted to his own orange color?

REVIEW

We can confirm that the photos and videos are real, and Mr. Thanathorn did in fact join the red-shirt demonstrations back in 2010.In an interview Mr. Thanathorn gave with the BBC on the formation of the Future Forward Party on 15 March of 2018 with co-founder Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, Mr. Thanathorn said he will reject any participation with any movement that is undemocratic.

When asked about how we will tackle the powers of both small and large parties, Mr. Thanathorn said:

“We will not be a political option of the people, we will become the main direction for solving problems and developing Thailand’s democracy. We will fight in every election, every constituency, every social class. Whether it’s the Pheu Thai Party, Democrat Party or the Kriang Party, everyone is our political competitor”.

BBC reporters also asked Mr. Thanathorn how he will live up to solving Thailand’s political differences when several key members are staunch oppositions of conservatism, Mr Thanathorn said that the party is not taking any sides.

“We are not taking any sides, but we have a standing ground and if anyone crosses that line we will fight, we will attack. Whether it be Thaksin Shinawatra or Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, anyone who crosses the boundaries of our ideology will be opposed by us. We will not steer away from our ideology, and if our party does steer away I will be the first to resign” Mr. Thanathorn said.

An interesting video clip from a news coverage by Voice TV during the red-shirt demonstrations on 10 April showed Mr. Thanathorn being carried away in a pick-up truck after being struck by a rubber bullet.

The video captured (4:12-4:16) the moment Mr. Thanathorn screamed “Rubber bullet, don’t touch it hurts!”, but the original video clip had mysteriously been removed from Youtube.

Although the intentions of the removal of the video is not clear, the public are still uncertain on whether Mr. Thanathorn desires to remain with the red shirts or has he truly shifted