Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong, leader of the Prachachart Party, urges the Election Commission (EC) to stop filing lawsuits that silence the public, pointing out that this infringes on the freedom to scrutinize the government. He warns this is a dangerous sign that reflects how independent organizations are forgetting who the true holders of power are.
On 28 February 2026, Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong, leader of the Prachachart Party, posted on Facebook stating that the Election Commission’s decision to press criminal charges against six academics, experts, and civil society representatives—all acting on behalf of Thai citizens according to the constitution and serving as whistleblowers—is problematic. In fact, the state should have measures to protect the safety and rights of those reporting corruption. Therefore, filing charges against these whistleblowers not only violates the constitution but also signals that independent organizations are forgetting who the true holders of power are.
Pol. Col. Tawee said that, as a political party and citizens, he would like to declare their position and constitutional facts to protect their legitimate rights as follows.
1. Oversight is a "duty," not a "crime." According to Article 50 of the constitution, citizens have the duty to protect the democratic system and exercise their right to vote freely and confidentially. The EC is responsible for conducting transparent elections. Therefore, citizens are fully justified in monitoring, scrutinizing, and criticizing the EC’s actions that could affect their sacred votes.
2. Laws must protect those who "expose wrongdoing," not be used as weapons. Article 63 of the constitution requires the state to support citizens in preventing corruption. The six individuals who came forward with information and raised concerns acted as good citizens. The EC should thank the public for helping close loopholes, rather than exploiting criminal law as a weapon to suppress freedoms and diminish human dignity.
3. "Freedom of expression" is a shield against authoritarian power. Under Articles 34 and 41 of the constitution, citizens have the freedom to express opinions, file complaints, and honestly criticize state agencies for the public good. This must be protected. The EC should realize that the more they use their power to sue and silence citizens, the more the dignity and credibility of election results will collapse.
The leader of the Prachachart Party stated that such criminal lawsuits against citizens constitute "Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation" (SLAPP), violating the freedom to participate in government oversight and contravening Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Thailand is a clear party.
He expressed support and respect for the six individuals as fighters for human dignity and justice. He urged the EC to stop creating an atmosphere of fear and instead "disclose information transparently," clarify technological doubts thoroughly, and reveal the truth fairly, so that every citizen’s vote is valuable, dignified, equal, and genuinely protected.