Move Forward party leader Chaithawat Tulathong has said that he will call a meeting of the party’s executive committee next week to consider whether Bangkok MP Chaiyamparwaan Manpianjit has complied with the party’s resolution calling on him to offer an apology to the public and the victims after he was found to have committed acts of sexual harassment by the party’s disciplinary panel.
Responding to Chaiyamparwaan’s offering of a public apology at a news conference on Friday, Chaithawat said in his Facebook post Friday that he felt the Bangkok MP had not repented and was insincere when apologising, in a way which may cause further damage to the three victims.
Chaithawat disclosed that all the three female victims were volunteers assisting Chaiyamparwaan and that his alleged misconduct has made the volunteers fell unsafe working for the party “which should be free from sexual harassment.”
Apart from not being sincere in offering the apology, Chaithawat said that Chaiyamparwaan also presented a statement from one of his three victims, in an attempt to prove that he has a good relationship with her and that his alleged act was committed with the victim’s consent and the victim has not shown any resistance or dissatisfaction afterwards.
The Move Forward party leader also said that, if the executive committee agrees that Chaiyamparwaan did not comply with the committee’s resolution, a joint meeting of the committee and MPs will be held to consider the expulsion of the Bangkok MP from the party.
Meanwhile, Move Forward executive committee member Benja Saengchan said she will ask the party, in the coming week, to consider expelling Chaiyamparwaan, because she feels that the MP was insincere in making his apology and did not repent for his wrongdoing, which is a gross disciplinary violation.
She said that the Bangkok MP appeared not to understand the sensitivity and seriousness of sexual harassment and should be held accountable for his misconduct, adding that the MP should quit immediately.
She claimed that the Bangkok MP appeared not to understand the sensitivity and seriousness of sexual harassment and should be held accountable for his misconduct, adding that he should quit immediately.
Chaiyamparwaan and another MP for Prachin Buri, Wuttiphong Thonglour, were found to have committed acts of sexual harassment, but only Wuttiphong was dismissed by the party’s executive committee and MPs. Chaiyamparwaan was placed on probation, on the condition that he must offer an apology to the public and the victim and compensate the victim.
Chaiyamparwaan said he would resign only if he is found at fault by the Election Commission.
Although expelled by the party, Wuttiphong said he would not quit either. Nonetheless, he will have to register with a new party within 30 days if he wants to retain his parliamentary status.
