It may look like the "empire" is striking back at Future Forward Party (FFP) leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, but don't forget that this could just be the middle chapter of another long-drawn out Thai political conflict story.
The endgame is nowhere near.
Even if Mr Thanathorn falls, party secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul will still stand, plus spokeswoman Phannika Wanit, 40,000-plus members and more than six million people who voted for the progressive banner in the last election.
On a larger level, almost 15 million people voted for an alliance of parties that made it clear they opposed the military regime.
It's true that as the main public face of the FFP, Mr Thanathorn has done a remarkable job in exemplifying its defiant spirit. The party is extremely young, having been established in October last year, yet its stance against the military dictatorship is stronger than most others.
A rookie politician, Mr Thanathorn has proven to be a magnet for members of the young generation. Yet the six million votes were definitely not just for him.
Many people voted for the FFP even though its candidates are virtually unknown because they endorsed what the party stands for, as a vehicle for a new, open-minded agenda that is exactly opposite to what the military regime has prescribed for Thailand so far.
Once he marked his political standpoint, Mr Thanathorn became the face of an ever-evolving energy in society that has always moved against the establishment.
In short, the force against military dictatorship, far-right conservatism and all things dark, repressive and unaccountable associated with the regime, is real. It aspires to be taken into account, as evident in the overwhelming support for the newbie FFP. It longs to see a more open, inclusive alternative than the current regime that rules by subjugation and maintains a semblance of order by fear.
The energy, the force and the spirit will not die because Mr Thanathorn was obstructed.
As Mr Thanathorn fights multiple accusations including sedition charges, filed by none other than the ruling National Council for Peace and Order, and a shareholding violation allegation, he has become a representative of the other Thailand.
Whether the rookie politician is the embodiment of progressiveness he portrays himself as is anybody's guess. As more attempts have been made by conservative networks to strike him down, his profile as the progressive crusader has become ever more prominent, at least in the public's mind.
To many, Mr Thanathorn has become not just a party leader but an idea, a conviction.
The more dubious the charges against Mr Thanathorn appear, the more he will be seen as a victim of a stubborn dictatorship that won't let go of its grip on power. The sedition charges, for example, date back to 2015 and involve an allegation that Mr Thanathorn assisted a leader of anti-coup protesters by giving him a ride in his van.
Although the alleged "criminal violation" may sound more like a gesture of friendship than an act of sedition, Mr Thanathorn could face up to nine years in prison if found guilty. He could also be disqualified from parliament.
The latest media shareholding violation claim is equally debatable, appearing to revolve around technicalities over which date the share transfer should be interpreted as occurring on than the real intent behind the clause, which is to prevent politicians from abusing the media for their own interest.
During this post-poll limbo as the Election Commission struggles to find traction, accusations are flying as all sides go into hyper-litigation mode to bring their rivals down, Mr Thanathorn and the FFP are set to face more allegations to keep them from pursuing their anti-dictatorship agenda.
The "empire" may have thought it would be able to nip the growing progressive spirit in the bud by targeting Mr Thanathorn. But if the results of the March 24 election can tell us anything, it's the unarguable fact that a free-thinking, liberal force has been awakened. It may be weak but it is growing, feeding on the incompetence and decay of the conservative powers-that-be.
Can the "empire" uproot the progressive "force" by destroying Mr Thanathorn? No, not unless it is willing to crush the progressive mass altogether. Otherwise, there will just be a new Thanathorn, a new personification of the movement to lead the masses against a regime they believe is suffocating them.
Like Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, led a successful rebellion against the wealthy Capitol, Mr Thanathorn is a catalyst for change. And the spirit of defiance, the courage to fight against perceived injustice and the dream of a better, more egalitarian future has spread like wildfire.
The Establishment can try to bring Mr Thanathorn down but the spirit won't die.
Atiya Achakulwisut is a columnist, Bangkok Post.
