Questions have arisen regarding the authenticity of a leaked Line chat that claims political interference in Phuket. An assessment by the Interior Ministry revealed multiple discrepancies, including names that do not correspond with official election records. According to sources from the Interior Ministry, the screenshot reportedly depicts a conversation between Narucha Kosacivilize, the director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration, and Phuket’s deputy governor, Roongruang Thimabut.
The chat included a roster of political candidates and their popularity across various constituencies, along with a directive from a senior official to “help the blue,” referring to the Bhumjaithai Party. However, a comparison of the names listed in the chat with the Election Commission’s candidate records uncovered significant inconsistencies in several constituencies.
For instance, in Phuket’s constituency 1, the chat mentioned a candidate who is a senior district official, while the official election list presents a different party nominee. Similarly, in constituency 2, several names diverged from the official records, including individuals holding unrelated public positions or those not appearing on the ballot, which raises further doubts about the chat’s validity.
Some individuals referenced in the chat are still in governmental roles or have not resigned to run for election, contradicting the claims made in the leaked information. This has led to increased scrutiny regarding the chat’s authenticity, with ongoing efforts to trace the origin of the images and determine if any alterations have occurred, according to the sources.
Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, deputy leader of the People’s Party, expressed that if the “help the blue” message is verified as genuine, it would be a troubling revelation. He indicated that the situation has alarmed the public and could signify improper political interference and misuse of administrative transfers, suggesting potential pressure on civil servants to favor political interests, thereby compromising political neutrality and the rule of law.
Mr. Narucha has refuted any involvement, denying both sending the message and having any knowledge of it.
Source: Bangkok Post
