Whistleblower alleges People’s Party ran dubious media operation

Self-proclaimed whistleblower Srisuwan Janya has asked the Election Commission (EC) to consider dissolving the People’s Party, accusing it of running a dubious “information operation” through a company called Spectre C, in violation of election law.

In his petition to the EC, Srisuwan claims that Spectre C is a media company located in the same building as the People’s Party and that some of the company’s founders also hold executive positions in the party.

A former People’s Party MP for Bangkok, Tisana Choonhavan, was the first to expose the party’s alleged information operation through Spectre C.

Srisuwan said he had observed that, in recent months, the party’s executives, former MPs and members had been given unusually increased access to television appearances.

Citing the Constitution, which forbids party executives from owning media companies or holding shares in media outlets, he said the EC should investigate the relationship between Spectre C and the party’s executives.

He also claimed that the party requires individuals applying for membership to provide their confidential 12-digit national ID card number on the application form. He added that this may violate Articles 32 and 25 of the Constitution, which prohibit the misuse of such confidential information for vested interests.

A spokesman for the People’s Party, Parit Wacharasindhu, denied that the party has ever conducted an information operation. On Sunday, he led a group of reporters on a visit to the fourth floor of the building to demonstrate that the party was not running such an operation as alleged.

Coincidentally, the floor had been vacated because the air-conditioning system was undergoing repairs, and all computers and other office equipment had been moved to the third floor.

An “information operation,” sometimes referred to as an “influence operation,” involves the collection of tactical information about an adversary as well as the dissemination of propaganda to gain a competitive advantage over an opponent.