People's Party Clarifies Thissana Case, Denies Cover-Up and Affirms Readiness to Probe
The People's Party released a statement addressing allegations involving MP Thissana, revealing that past executives were informed but the victim declined an investigation at the time.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Thissana previously informed Pita's/Move Forward's Pitcharoon and Chaithawat about the incident.
- The victim requested no formal investigation and withheld the perpetrator's identity.
- The party strongly denies ever asking the victim to remain silent for image protection.
- Party officials have now initiated contact with witnesses to begin a full probe if she is ready.
Following public interest regarding sexual harassment allegations within political circles, the People's Party Facebook page issued a formal statement detailing the events. The party confirmed that former executives were indeed informed when Ms. Thissana Chุณหะวัณ disclosed the harassment to Mr. Pitcharoon Chawpatnawong, then deputy leader of the Move Forward Party, who subsequently reported it to Mr. Chaithawat Tulathon, the then-secretary-general. The leadership recognized the severity of the offense and intended to pursue disciplinary action.
However, the statement noted that at the time, Ms. Thissana firmly insisted she only wanted to inform the leadership about the incident and explicitly stated she did not want the party to take any further action, nor was she willing to reveal the identity of the perpetrator. Because of this, the former Move Forward Party was unable to proceed with a formal fact-finding investigation to reach a definitive conclusion.
Adhering to a survivor-centric approach is a critical standard when handling internal grievances, particularly regarding sexual harassment. Victims often face immense psychological trauma and privacy concerns, making their autonomy over disclosure paramount. While respecting a victim's initial wish for confidentiality protects their well-being, it inherently limits an organization's ability to take disciplinary action until the individual feels secure enough to come forward formally.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Addressing accusations regarding organizational protectionism, the executives of the former Move Forward Party and the current People's Party firmly stated that they never requested Ms. Thissana to keep quiet to protect the party's reputation. They highlighted that in numerous past incidents, the party has consistently investigated and penalized wrongdoers without exception, publicly disclosing the outcomes.
Regarding current developments, the People's Party emphasized that the door to an investigation has never been closed. If Ms. Thissana is ready at this stage, the party is fully prepared to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure justice for the victim and exact penalties on any wrongdoer. The party has already begun reaching out to Ms. Thissana and relevant witnesses who may possess factual insights to provide testimonies.
The People's Party concluded by reiterating its strong stance that sexual harassment is a severe offense, maintaining that the party possesses no culture of shielding offenders and remains committed to enforcing strict penalties while keeping the victim's welfare as the top priority.
Source: Matichon Politics
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