Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has filed a defamation lawsuit against Yingcheep Atchanont, director of the advocacy group Internet Law Reform Dialogue, known as iLaw, over allegations linked to the country’s 2024 Senate election.
The legal action follows allegations presented by Yingcheep to opposition lawmakers in July, in which nine politicians associated with Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party were linked to alleged irregularities in the Senate election.
Yingcheep’s submission called for parliamentary scrutiny of claims involving the organisation of candidates, voting instructions and alleged financial incentives during the election. The allegations have been disputed by Anutin and other politicians named in the submission.
Anutin had announced on July 22 that he intended to pursue a criminal defamation case against Yingcheep. Bhumjaithai’s legal representative, Supachai Jaisamut, said the other politicians named in the allegations would also take legal action.
Anutin has rejected the allegations and questioned the credibility of the claims. The legal proceedings will now provide a forum for the competing positions to be examined.
Yingcheep has defended iLaw’s work and said the organisation’s findings were based on information gathered from investigations into the Senate election. He has also said that much of the evidence held by authorities remains outside the portion available to him.
The dispute centres on Thailand’s 2024 Senate election, in which 200 senators were selected through a multi-stage process. Allegations surrounding possible coordination and irregularities have been subject to scrutiny by Thai authorities.
International rights organisations have expressed concern about the planned criminal defamation proceedings. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership between the World Organisation Against Torture and the International Federation for Human Rights, urged Anutin to refrain from pursuing the case, arguing that Yingcheep’s activities involved monitoring public affairs and promoting accountability.
The lawsuit adds to a series of legal complaints involving Yingcheep over statements and allegations concerning the Senate election. Several politicians named in iLaw’s submission have also announced or filed separate complaints.
The case is expected to draw further attention to the allegations surrounding the Senate election as the legal process moves forward.
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