Yingcheep: Democracy watchdog taking on Thai PM over Senate scandal

Democracy watchdog Yingcheep Atchanont has implicated Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and eight other Bhumjaithai chiefs in alleged Senate vote-rigging in 2024, sparking a furious legal backlash.

The ruling party is threatening to sue the iLaw executive director for defamation after he petitioned the opposition People’s Party to investigate the nine politicians over alleged election tampering.

The July 21 petition lodged by iLaw, a non-profit human rights organisation, cites claims by unsuccessful senatorial candidates that senior Bhumjaithai figures oversaw a payments-for-votes scheme to secure Senate seats for their proxy candidates.

Bhumjaithai has strongly denied the allegations, branding Yingcheep’s move as politically motivated.

A ‘born fighter’

Responding to Bhumjaithai’s lawsuit threat, Yingcheep quipped that he would appoint human rights lawyer Anon Nampa to cross-examine PM Anutin for two whole days.

Anon has been incarcerated in Bangkok Remand Prison since September 2023 on charges of lèse-majesté and sedition.

Describing himself as a “born fighter”, Yingcheep cautioned Bhumjaithai to reconsider its decision to sue him.

“I have no fear of losing the case, but I believe it would set an improper standard in the use of the law – one that is unbecoming of [a ruling party],” he said in a Facebook post on July 23.

However, Anutin insists his party is pressing ahead with legal action.

Tainted election

The 2024 Senate election saw over 40,000 candidates vote among themselves during multiple rounds at the district, provincial and national levels to determine the 200 final winners.

Following allegations of widespread fraud and manipulation, a joint investigation by the Election Commission (EC) and the Department of Special Investigation recommended that 229 individuals – 138 sitting senators and 91 others, including Bhumjaithai executives – be charged with electoral fraud.

However, in March – just one month after Bhumjaithai scored a surprise general election victory – an EC subcommittee cleared all suspects of the charges. The EC’s final decision on whether to confirm the ruling is expected in late August.

Born into a family of lawyers

Yingcheep, 40, joined iLaw in 2009 before rising to executive director. Under his leadership, the organisation has actively defended human rights while campaigning for a new constitution to replace the current charter, which was drafted under the junta following the 2014 coup.

Born into a family of legal professionals, Yingcheep earned his bachelor's degree in law from Thammasat University before obtaining his licence to practice. His father is an attorney who runs a law office, while his mother and elder sister are judges.

Yingcheep’s passion for public advocacy began as a student at Bangkok’s Suankularb Wittayalai School in Bangkok, where he coordinated rights-awareness camps for impoverished rural citizens and headed the school’s environmental conservation club.

He chose to study law at university on the assumption he would inherit the family business from his father. “He was happy for me to eventually take over.”

Yingcheep continued to join student rural outreach camps during his university years. He also took part in anti-government protests on both sides of the political divide, attending rallies staged by both the red shirts and the yellow shirts.

After graduating, he obtained a barrister’s licence at his mother’s request. However, Yingcheep chose civil society over the judiciary, launching his career with a part-time post at iLaw.

His parents disapproved of his decision to work for an NGO. “They wanted me to work as a lawyer or a judge,” he said in a 2017 interview.

Yingcheep confessed to having a limited grasp of human rights when he first joined iLaw. At that time, he viewed “people who demand so many rights for themselves” as troublemakers.

His view changed when he encountered stateless hilltribe children in Mae Hong Son province who were seeking Thai nationality. “They were also human beings, with feelings,” he said.

Yingcheep joined iLaw in its early days, when it operated as a project under the Thai Volunteer Service Foundation to promote public participation in the legislative process.

Under his leadership, iLaw branched off as an independent organisation and expanded to cover constitutional reform and freedom of expression.

Global entrepreneur network Ashoka named Yingcheep a fellow last October, honouring him for making democracy accessible to all Thais.

“Through compelling digital storytelling and legal transparency, he empowers citizens to understand their rights, speak out on critical issues, and participate in shaping their country’s future,” the organisation said.

“His work inspires collective action and fosters a culture of accountability, proving that informed citizens are the cornerstone of a thriving democracy.”