Thai Senator Daeng sues iLaw director Yingcheep for defamation

On 30 July 2023, Senator Daeng, a member of Senate Group 10, filed a criminal defamation complaint against Yingcheep Atchanont, director of the Internet for Law (iLaw) project. The complaint follows Yingcheep’s Facebook post on 28 July, which alleged that Daeng had falsified her senatorial application by describing herself as a pork‑seller and claimed she lacked the legal qualifications required for Group 10. Daeng maintains the statements are false, that Yingcheep mis‑interpreted the law defining Group 10, and that the post sparked online harassment toward her and her family. She is seeking legal penalties against Yingcheep and others involved. The case underscores ongoing disputes over the inclusion of diverse occupations, such as street‑level vendors, in Thailand’s Senate under the 2017 Constitution.