1,200 police to secure Constitutional Court on ruling day

Police will deploy 1,200 officers in and around the Constitutional Court on Thursday when it rules on the dissolution of Thai Raksa Chart following the party's nomination of Princess Ubolratana to be its candidate for prime minister.

Deputy National Police chief Pol Gen Sriwara Ransibrahmanakul said on Wednesday 1,200 police personnel will provide security in the court compound with checkpoints to be set up 500 metres from the courthouse to screen people.

The court will start reading the ruling at 3pm. It will determine whether the party will be dissolved for committing an act deemed hostile to the monarchy after nominating the princess as its candidate for prime minister.

The Election Commission asked the court to dissolve the party on the grounds that it violated Section 92 of the 2017 organic law on parties.

Concerns over the political uncertainty helped the Stock Exchange of Thailand index fall further than its peers in Southeast Asia on Wednesday. The SET index dropped 13.49 points or 0.82% to 1,625.51.

The media and the public are not allowed to attend the courtroom where the ruling will be announced. The event will be relayed live to other rooms set aside for them.