Thais online rally to ‘save’ opposition MP after charges filed against him

The hashtag saveรังสิมันต์โรม (#SaveRangsimanRome) was trending on Twitter late Friday night and early Saturday morning as Thai social media users rallied to express support for opposition MP Rangsiman Rome after charges were filed against him for defamation.

Rangsiman was not given time during February’s censure debate to question Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan over his business dealings. The Move Forward MP accused a network of Prawit supporters in the government and in the opposition of conspiring to not give him time to make a statement.

Rangsiman would later hold an ‘out of parliament’ censure debate where he publicly accused Prawit of using his political power to amass a vast fortune through his ties to several organizations.

One of these organizations, the Forest Conversation Foundation has filed a defamation suit against Rangsiman.

Twitter and Facebook users have rushed to Rangsiman’s defense accusing the government of once again using the judiciary to carry out its pogroms.

Social media users have likened it to the dissolution of the Future Forward Party by the Constitutional Court and the banning of Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit by the Election Commission.

Rangsiman Rome told Thai Enquirer on Saturday that he was humbled by all the support.

“I want to thank everyone for their support, never would I imagine that with the outbreak of Covid-19 going on that people would take their time to express their support for me,” Rome said.

“It is very humbling.”

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