Controversy arises involving NIDA lecturer "Ice Rukchanok" who rebuts demeaning claims and communicates to three groups, affirming it is for fairness to her family and denying engagement in the professions alleged.
The issue became a political controversy ahead of elections when a lecturer from a prominent university posted on Facebook about the background and private life of a mysterious individual on 28 Dec. Subsequently, Ice Rukchanok Srinork, former Bangkok MP from the People's Party, responded on her own page amid comments from both sides offering support and criticizing the focus on personal life in the dispute.
It began when Associate Professor Dr. Arnond Sakworawich, a lecturer in the Applied Statistics Faculty at the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), posted on his Facebook account “Arnond Sakworawich” that after investigating, he found it was as he suspected: the father’s identity was unknown, possibly a nightlife enthusiast or a pimp; the mother was likely a sex worker. He claimed she was born in a brothel but not raised by her mother.
Someone took her in not out of love but because they won the lottery, treating her as a good luck charm rather than a loved child. She grew up in the slums, struggling for survival without warmth or proper guidance—a life full of deprivation, evoking pity and sorrow.
As fellow humans, we should wish her well despite her unpleasant nature. We should pray she finds kind-hearted people who offer abundant love and warmth, including to her, so she has opportunities to elevate her spirit and character.
Later, Ice Rukchanok Srinork, former Bangkok MP from the People's Party, posted on her personal page “Rukchanok Srinork - Rukchanok Srinork” stating that these are daily experiences since becoming a politician. Mild insults call her a stray or fatherless child; harsher accusations label her a prostitute, a sugar baby, or a mistress. Her images have been doctored with abusive captions, AI-generated obscene clips fabricated, and false news spread to defame her daily. More severe cases include lawsuits to silence her, threats, harassment, sexual harassment in words and deeds, and recently even physical assault. The abuse has extended to accusing other family members. She questions how anyone has the right to seriously accuse someone else's parents this way.
How does everyone feel after reading this?
What I wonder is why those calling themselves royalists dare behave so disgracefully toward others under the guise of loyalty. You may dislike certain politicians and criticize them harshly, but to insult their parents with degrading, dehumanizing words is unacceptable. Even I, who grew up in a harsh environment without proper guidance as the original poster claimed, have never done such things to anyone’s parents. I have always supported free speech principles, but this crosses into hate speech. Why do those who claim to love and protect the institution choose to diminish the humanity of dissenters instead of debating with reason and logic like educated people?
Finally, I have three groups I want to address.
1) The administration of the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).
I understand that the institute maintains political neutrality and does not prohibit staff from expressing political opinions publicly, which is commendable.
However, I ask what is NIDA’s stance on dehumanizing behavior or using trauma or difficult life stories of individuals to belittle them? Does NIDA support such socially harmful conduct or allow its personnel to engage in it?
2) Alumni and current students of NIDA.
I respect all political views, whether conservative or liberal, supportive or not of me. I have never considered lawsuits over criticisms—polite or harsh—since political office candidates must expect more scrutiny than ordinary people. But what do NIDA’s alumni and students think when a respected institute's staff express such attitudes and the institute remains silent on hate speech and dehumanization, which have occurred repeatedly?
3) People born into difficult circumstances (like us).
No one chooses their birth. If we could, we would all want to be born into fully supportive, warm families. Everyone wants to live in communities free from violence and social problems, where children attend good schools. No one wants to endure a troubled childhood filled with insults, discrimination, or worse experiences that some of our peers face, yet we feel powerless to help them.
No one is to blame for being born into an unprepared family, in slums, amid social problems. Surviving each day is a struggle. We cannot choose our birth, but we can choose what kind of society to pass on. We can choose whether to perpetuate attitudes and values that judge people by their origins, continuing insults toward orphans and children with troubled parents who inevitably inherit these challenges despite not choosing them.
People have different life limitations and upbringing. Those born in warm, well-fed families with loving support during hard times may not understand children growing up in overcrowded communities filled with social problems. But even if they do not understand, they should not insult or belittle. People attack others to cause pain, yet countless individuals face uncontrollable harsh contexts. Ignoring social issues is one thing, but don’t be part of the problem. Society would be much better.
I send strength to those with similar life circumstances. When reading triggering content like this, remember that despite hardships, we have survived to today. Anyone can do that. We cannot choose our birth, but we control what comes after.
P.S. Although this issue does not mention me by name, almost everyone reading understands who is meant, judging from the comments. Such conduct may skirt legal consequences. I do not hold negative attitudes toward sex workers’ professions, but for fairness to my parents, I affirm they have never engaged in such work as claimed. Those who act like this often claim to protect the institution. Have they ever reflected on how such behavior benefits what they claim to cherish and defend?