Bangkok: "Alongkot" expressed no concern over reports that the Election Commission is preparing to charge individuals for collusion in the selection of senators. He quipped about the possibility of the news going silent, creating unnecessary excitement, and questioned whether Thailand should sever ties with Cambodia amidst ongoing criticism.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Alongkot Woraki, a senator, addressed the reports that the 26th Central Investigation and Inquiry Subcommittee had concluded its investigation into alleged collusion in the selection of senators. The subcommittee recommended prosecuting 229 individuals and planned to forward the findings to the Election Commission for a meeting scheduled on July 14. Mr. Alongkot stated that it was within the Election Commission's rights to proceed. He noted that the Commission recently dismissed the reports as false. It remains the Commission's responsibility to summon senators to acknowledge the charges and conduct investigations. Senators, on their part, have the right to acknowledge or deny these charges, which is their prerogative and responsibility. When asked if he felt unsettled by the developments, Mr. Alongkot remarked that it had been 4-5 months since the issue surfaced, and he no longer felt perturbed. He emphasized that he had exercised his right to challenge the charges, leaving further investigation to the Commission. Ultimately, he stated, it is the court's decision that matters.
Mr. Alongkot further commented, "They must be afraid that the news about the Senate will be quiet, so there is news about this coming out. If you want to focus on the news about colluding to elect the Senate, you can keep an eye on it. But don't forget the news about Cambodia that we also have to pay attention to. Currently, Cambodia is criticizing Thailand every day. I want to ask if diplomatic relations should be cut off or not."