“Not a joke”: Sudarat condemns online sexual harassment of daughter
The youngest daughter of the Thai Sang Thai Party’s PM candidate has decided to take legal action against an online commentator, whom she alleges sexually harassed her.
The party’s secretary general, Phatchari Nitsiriphat, said that Yossuda Leelapanyalert, 26, the daughter of Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, has already appointed a team of lawyers to file charges of sexual harassment and violations of the Computer Crime Act against a netizen.
Yossuda participated, alongside other party members, in the first day of registration for constituency MP candidates on Saturday. Her mother, Khunying Sudarat, did not attend the event.
Yossuda’s presence drew attention, as she had to date kept a low profile in politics.
During the event, she gave interviews in both fluent Thai and English, with some observers noting similarities between her demeanor and that of her mother, a veteran politician and MP.
Photos and interviews of Yossuda were widely shared across social media platforms, attracting mostly positive reactions.
One comment, however, posted under her photo by a veteran male actor and model, sparked public outrage, due to its sexual nature.
Initially, the actor, using the account ‘Dome Pakorn Lam’, denied writing the comment, but later admitted to posting it, claiming he had been “slightly intoxicated” at the time.
Meanwhile, Sudarat posted a statement on her Facebook page condemning sexual harassment directed at her daughter.
“As a mother, I wish to express my firm stand against the sexual harassment of my daughter. Although my health is not strong at the moment, I cannot remain silent,” she wrote.
She explained that, due to her illness on that day, Yossuda stepped in to represent the party, offering encouragement to the team and acting with sincerity for the country and the organisation.
“I must stand up and fulfill my role as a mother to protect the dignity of my daughter and of all women. Such incidents should never happen to anyone, regardless of gender… No one should be subjected to this kind of humiliation or have their dignity violated,” Sudarat wrote.
She stressed that the comments in question were not mere jokes, but constituted an affront to human dignity and gender equality, and could amount to abuse and violation of the law.
Sudarat also expressed gratitude to those who have spoken out in support of Yossuda and who have stood up for what is right.
“This call for accountability is not only for (my daughter), but to affirm that sexual harassment, regardless of its form or target, is unacceptable in Thai society… Those responsible must be held accountable for their actions, both socially and legally, in a fair manner,” she wrote.