Two more Democrat Party members have issued their resignations, one from the party’s executive committee, and the other from the party, amid the sex abuse scandal in which former party deputy leader Prinn Panitchpakdi is allegedly implicated.
Former Democrat MP for Bangkok Onanong Kanjanachusak has resigned as an executive committee member of the party, effective yesterday (Thursday). In her resignation letter, Onanong did not give any reason for her departure from the committee, but it is believed to be linked to the scandal in which up to 15 women have accused Prinn of sexual assault including rape.
Onanong becomes the third executive committee member to quit this week. On Monday, Dr. Kanok Wongtrangan, who was also a deputy leader, and Mallika Boonmeetrakool Mahasook resigned from the committee.
Onanong was among seven female executive committee members who were expected to leave the posts.
One of them, Rachada Dhnadirek, deputy spokesperson for the government, refuted the speculation, however, saying that they will stay on to perform their duties, while indicating that they will decide, at an appropriate time, whether to quit.
Former Democrat MP candidate for Samut Prakan province Soracha Weerachatwattana also issued her resignation as a party member yesterday.
Last week, veteran politician and a former deputy leader Vittaya Kaewparadai left Thailand’s oldest party in protest against the executive committee and party leader, Jurin Laksanawisit, for not showing more accountability over the sex abuse scandal.
Prinn, who resigned as a deputy party leader on April 14 amid the allegations, has been charged with sexual assault and is currently out on bail.
