Angkhana and Academics Criticize Somyot's Apology over Sexual Abuse

Matichon•Politics•4d ago

Reader Briefing

Prominent figures and academics criticize Somyot Phruksakasemsuk's apology to a victim of sexual abuse for allegedly blaming the victim and ignoring grooming patterns.

•Somyot Phruksakasemsuk issued a public apology to a victim identified as Khun A regarding allegations of sexual abuse.
•Critics, including Angkhana Neelapaijit and Pinkaew Luengaramsri, argue the apology diverts the issue to a personal relationship dispute and ignores the power dynamics of grooming.
•The victim, Khun A, reported being abused and felt unable to speak out due to shame and a relationship of dependence.
•Pavin Chachavalpongpan and Thissana Khunhavat emphasized that post-abuse relationships or silence do not constitute consent.

Overview

•Khun A revealed being sexually abused by a senior activist and stated that no apology had previously been offered.
•Somyot Phruksakasemsuk posted an apology stating he misunderstood Khun A's consent and mentioned they lived together for two years, noting Khun A was 25 and Somyot Phruksakasemsuk was 64.
•Pinkaew Luengaramsri from the Faculty of Social Sciences at Chiang Mai University stated that Somyot Phruksakasemsuk's apology is a form of 'whitewashing' violence by framing it as a marital dispute.
•Pavin Chachavalpongpan argued that authoritarianism and the use of seniority to abuse young female activists must be rejected within political movements.
•Thissana Khunhavat, a former Bangkok MP for the People's Party, stated that staying with or depending on an abuser should not be used as evidence that rape did not occur.
•Angkhana Neelapaijit criticized the apology as lacking genuine remorse and constituting victim blaming by citing a relationship of dependence and gratitude.
•Sunai Passuk, an advisor to Human Rights Watch, stated that Somyot Phruksakasemsuk's apology led to a trend of blaming the victim.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Somyot Phruksakasemsuk

"I apologize to Khun A that I misunderstood and thought unilaterally that Khun A gave consent, but it is not as Khun A recounted."

ผมขอโทษคุณ A ที่ผมเข้าใจผิด คิดเพียงฝ่ายเดียวว่า คุณ A ให้ความยินยอม แต่ไม่ใช่ดังที่คุณ A ได้เล่าให้ฟัง

Pavin Chachavalpongpan

"The problem of sexual harassment in political movements should not be overlooked or swept under the rug just for fear of affecting the beauty of the struggle."

ปัญหาการคุกคามทางเพศในขบวนการเคลื่อนไหวทางการเมือง ไม่ควรถูกมองข้ามหรือซุกไว้ใต้พรมเพียงเพราะกลัวว่าจะกระทบความงามของการต่อสู้

Pinkaew Luengaramsri

"It is a diversion from the allegations of abuse and grooming behavior to make it a relationship problem between two people who once lived together."

เป็นการเปลี่ยนประเด็นจากข้อกล่าวหาเรื่องการล่วงละเมิดและพฤติกรรมแบบ grooming ให้กลายเป็นปัญหาความสัมพันธ์ของคนสองคนที่เคยอยู่กินกัน

Thissana Khunhavat

"Staying is not consent, silence is not consent, dependence is not consent, and subsequent relationships cannot change past non-consensual acts."

การอยู่ต่อไม่ใช่ consent การเงียบไม่ใช่ consent การพึ่งพาไม่ใช่ consent และความสัมพันธ์ภายหลังไม่สามารถเปลี่ยนการกระทำที่ปราศจากความยินยอมในอดีต

Angkhana Neelapaijit

"How to apologize so that it becomes the victim's fault (victim blaming)? Claiming to have 'lived together' for two years—what kind of relationship was that first?"

ขอโทษยังไงให้เป็นความผิดของเหยื่อ (victim blaming) อ้าง “อยู่กินกัน” สองปี อยู่กินบนความสัมพันธ์แบบไหนก่อน

Key Entities

Person

Somyot Phruksakasemsuk(สมยศ พฤกษาเกษมสุข)

A senior activist accused of sexual abuse who issued a public apology.

Pavin Chachavalpongpan(ปวิน ชัชวาลพงศ์พันธ์)

An individual who commented on sexual harassment and authoritarianism within political movements.

Pinkaew Luengaramsri(ปิ่นแก้ว เหลืองอร่ามศรี)

An academic from the Faculty of Social Sciences at Chiang Mai University.

Thissana Khunhavat(ธิษะณา ชุณหะวัณ)

A former Bangkok MP from the People's Party.

Angkhana Neelapaijit(อังคณา นีละไพจิตร)

A Senator and former member of the Human Rights Commission.

Sunai Passuk(สุณัย ผาสุข)

An advisor to Human Rights Watch.

Organization

Chiang Mai University(ม.เชียงใหม่)ℹ️

The university where Pinkaew Luengaramsri is affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences.

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

The political party associated with former MP Thissana Khunhavat.

Human Rights Watch(ฮิวแมนไรท์ วอชต์)ℹ️

The organization where Sunai Passuk serves as an advisor.