Thai court rules Move Forward party must end bid to reform lese-majesty law

Opposition leader rejects claims party is seeking to cause deterioration of monarchy

Thailand's constitutional court has ruled that the opposition party's pledge to reform the country's lese-majesty law is unlawful and that it must cease such efforts.

The court ordered the Move Forward party and its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, to stop all forms of communication aimed at bringing reforms to the law, under which criticism of the powerful royal family can lead to up to 15 years in prison on a single charge.