Two Senators File Defamation Complaint Against iLaw Director

On July 30, Senator Sompan Palasak from Group 10 filed a defamation complaint at Muang Amnat Charoen Police Station against Yingluck Achananth, director of the Internet for People Law Project (iLaw), and associates. The complaint stems from public Facebook posts that Sompan says falsely suggested he lacked qualifications to run for senator and misrepresented the legal requirements for Group 10 candidates—a category covering business operators outside small and medium enterprises.

Sompan stated that the posts damaged his reputation, causing him humiliation and public contempt. He emphasized that his qualifications were properly verified during the registration process, including submission of documentation proving knowledge and experience in his business sector. The Election Commission (EC) rejected challenges to his candidacy under ruling 17/2568, and he has since served as a senator without issue.

Sompan criticized Yingluck for failing to verify facts thoroughly and for applying what he calls "iLaw principles" rather than standard legal interpretation used by the EC and the public. He pointed out that iLaw's website information has already triggered electoral complaints in other provinces, with the EC dismissing those cases as well. Sompan stressed that while he operates a fish-ball noodle shop called "Big Fishball Noodle," he did not misrepresent his business on his application as Yingluck claimed. He argued that the EC, not Yingluck, has authority to evaluate candidate qualifications, and expressed dismay that Yingluck's posts included mocking and ridicule of his senate position, damaging his reputation, profession, and family honor.