Bangkok: Kriangkrai insists he did not harass or silence Nantana, claiming she violated ethics after being accused of degrading her reputation by calling her a "red shirt senator" and a pork seller. He emphasized that he followed due process when the complaint was filed, hoping to clear himself of the charges, just as the Criminal Court dismissed the case.
According to Thai News Agency, General Kriangkrai Srirak, First Vice President of the Senate, addressed the case of Ms. Nantana Nantawaropas, who claimed she was being harassed after the Senate considered the ethics complaint report regarding the alleged defamation of a senator. He stated that when a complaint was filed, it was handled according to procedure. Discussions in a Senate meeting are considered normal, but when it was made public, people perceived it as demeaning and contemptuous, leading to a complaint. The process was handled according to all procedures, and there was no harassment or bullying. He also stated that Ms. Nantana was not seen as being on the opposite side, as she was a fellow senator. Therefore, there was no "settling" in this matter, but rather a process.
Mr. Wuttichai Kalyanamitra, Secretary of the Senate Whip, added that when complaints are filed, action is taken. It's not the Senate's decision, but rather the relevant agencies for consideration. Right or wrong, they are ready to accept the outcome. Ms. Nantana confidently announced that the Criminal Court dismissed the charges because Senator Daeng Kongma admitted pride in his profession as a pork seller. She also wants to be innocent and cleared of all wrongdoing. If the matter reaches the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and there are no issues, then that's the end of the matter, and Ms. Nantana is considered innocent. However, if complaints are filed and action is not taken, there could be accusations of failing to act within authority. When duties are fulfilled, there are accusations of harassment. This matter doesn't end with the Senate, where a majority vote finds them guilty; ultimately, it must be sent to the relevant agencies for further consideration. He believes that after escaping the Criminal Court once, the NACC will also clear her of any wrongdoing. He offered his support and hoped that she would be cleared of all wrongdoing.
When asked why several similar complaints were dismissed, all but one against Ms. Nantana, leaving her feeling unfair, General Kriangkrai stated that there were more details in the facts, and each case needed to be examined. In some cases, the documents were incomplete, and the complainant did not dare to submit even a copy of their ID card, resulting in an incomplete petition that could not be accepted. He emphasized that the process had been carefully followed. He added that he could not claim that the committee member was obstructing his interests with this person. There was no conflict of interest with anyone, but rather that their names were included in the senator collusion case.
Regarding Ms. Nantana's claim that the process for considering the petition was improper because the witnesses were not fully examined, General Kriangkrai stated that due to the tight timeline, only a portion of the petition could be considered before submitting it to the Senate for further consideration. As Chairman, he confirmed that the process was carried out in accordance with the majority vote of the Ethics Committee meeting.
When asked again whether Ms. Nantana considered her silence, General Kriangkrai stated that who could silence her? She was constantly making statements, and after speaking in Parliament, she would give a press conference. He also asked who could silence her. She had her own media and her own fans, and they did not expect Ms. Nantana to be held accountable for her complaints. They were simply following due process. However, in voting, the opinions of senators were the prerogative of the senators. Everyone knew that this matter was self-evident.