Outspoken Senator Nantana Nantavaropas has hit back at the majority of the Senate, describing their resolution, faulting her for a gross ethical violation by allegedly describing a fellow senator as a “pork vendor”, as a “shameful decision.”
The Senate resolved by 130:26 votes with 11 abstentions yesterday to find her guilty of gross ethical violation and to submit the case to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for further action.
A weeping Nantana questioned why the Senate did not wait for a verdict from the court, scheduled for November 10th, before using a Senate majority to “bully” her.
She claimed that she had no intention of insulting any senators for their occupational backgrounds, but simply suggested that the population of Senate panels should be based on occupations, professions and skills.
She also claimed that the person who initiated the complaint against her to the Senate was a hired lawyer, who had already offered her an apology, but had to go ahead with the complaint anyway, adding that she was not given a chance to defend herself before the investigative panel.
Despite the resolution, Nantana vowed to fight on and to perform her duties in the Senate. She asked the public to judge whether calling someone a “pork vendor” was an insult or a dehumanising remark that constituted a gross ethical violation.
Senator Wuttipong Pongsuwan, a member of the Senate’s ethical committee, said he feels sorry for Nantana for being “bullied” by the majority of the Senate, adding that he does not understand the rationale that means calling someone a “pork vendor” is a serious ethical violation.
Another senator, Pattharapong Supaksorn, said that the resolution was a clear indicator that this Senate could not be trusted, citing the fact that Nantana was denied her legal right to defend herself.
