Anutin stands firm on iLaw suit over poll claims

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has stood firm on his decision not to withdraw a defamation lawsuit against iLaw director Yingcheep Atchanont, asserting that pursuing legal action is the right of those who feel unfairly accused. He rejected calls from the opposition for leniency towards Mr Yingcheep, who had urged the Bhumjaithai Party to reconsider the lawsuit stemming from iLaw's presentation of information concerning alleged manipulation of the 2024 Senate election. Speaking at Government House on Thursday, Mr Anutin stated that the case was a personal matter for those who believed they had been unfairly targeted, adding that Bhumjaithai members could make individual decisions on whether to pursue legal action. PM's Office Minister Paradorn Prissananantakul echoed this, noting that the decision to sue rested with Bhumjaithai and that he believed Mr Yingcheep should have considered the impact of publishing the allegations. In a prior Facebook post, Mr Yingcheep had urged the Bhumjaithai Party to drop its defamation lawsuit plans, arguing that criminal defamation was not the appropriate method for resolving public disputes. He pointed out that allegations of Senate election vote-rigging had already been raised publicly by witnesses and others with knowledge of the case, and called on the party to rebut the claims publicly rather than resort to legal action, leaving the public to judge the facts. iLaw, a Bangkok-based non-profit organization focused on legal and democratic reform, had released information alleging possible links between nine current and former Bhumjaithai politicians and a suspected network involved in manipulating the 2024 Senate election. Mr Yingcheep had on Tuesday submitted information to People's Party list MP Parit Wacharasindhu, chairman of the opposition whip, detailing alleged candidate coordination, voting patterns, and payments at local and national levels. The organization alleged that the prime minister and eight other politicians played various roles in the alleged Senate election vote-rigging scheme. Specifically, iLaw alleged that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul attended a meeting of newly elected senators at the Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel after the national selection. Other allegations included: Songsak Thongsri linked to organizing Senate candidates and coordinating activities in several provinces; Paradorn Prissananantakul helping plan and manage a network to support Senate candidates; Korrawee Prissananantakul involved in planning the operation and coordinating candidates; Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn having personal and political links to successful Senate candidates; Napintorn Srisunpang meeting Senate candidates before the national selection; Suksomruay Wantaneeyakul acting as a coordinator in Amnat Charoen; Phichai Chomphuphon's aides helping recruit and support candidates in Surat Thani; and Supachai Phosu attending a meeting where candidates prepared voting lists.