Bangkok: Captain Thamanat Phromphao, the Kla Tham Party's prime ministerial candidate, has openly addressed the controversial term "Pang" (meaning "flour") during an interview on the program "Karmakorn Khao Khueng Nok Jor" (Workers' News Off-Screen Talk). He clarified that he has never been involved in drug trafficking and criticized those who use the term without understanding the facts.
According to Thai News Agency, Captain Thamanat recounted an incident from his twenties that led to his wrongful accusation during a trip abroad. He emphasized that he was not prosecuted for drug trafficking but was accused of "knowing about the drugs but not reporting them to the authorities." Ultimately, the court acquitted him of the charges. He further explained that had he been involved with importing heroin, he would have faced severe consequences.
Captain Thamanat reflected on his past decision, describing it as a mistake made by a young person eager to return home without the financial means to hire a lawyer. He chose to be a witness to bring the case to a close and maintained that his court testimony consistently denied the charges against him.
He expressed frustration over the use of selective information to attack him and noted his efforts to obtain the court judgment document to prove his innocence, although it remains unavailable. He also commented on the persistence of the nickname "Flour" in political discourse, acknowledging his initial anger but now viewing it as karma he must endure.
Despite the passage of more than eight years, Captain Thamanat continues to face political attacks linked to the nickname. He has filed over 600 lawsuits, aiming to discern whether the statements made against him are genuine or from anonymous sources. He stressed that while criticism of his work is acceptable, baseless repetition of accusations necessitates intervention.