Thai Judges Threaten Defamation Lawsuit

[webfact]

CONTROVERSIAL COURT CLIPS

Judges threaten defamation lawsuit

By The Nation

Chaowan

BANGKOK: -- Judges of the Constitution Court yesterday resolved to take legal action against people accusing them of favouring the Democrat Party in the dissolution case and the unidentified people behind the release of damaging videos of a confidential meeting of the judges in their chambers.

Those making comments misleading the public into believing that the court had "got an order" not to dissolve the ruling party will be sued for defaming and harassing the court, along with those who made the videos public, for disclosing official secrets, court secretary general Chaowana Traimas said.

Reporters covering Chaowana's press conference were given copies of newspaper clippings carrying comments by red-shirt figures and politicians from the opposition Pheu Thai Party criticising the court and anticipating the court's bias towards the Democrat Party. One comment said there was "an aura of cruelty" to help the Democrat Party, and another predicted "chaos in the Constitution Court's process".

The judges also assigned the court's office to request the Foreign Ministry to revoke the official passport of Pasit Sakdanarong, who was removed from his post as secretary to the court's president shortly after the video scandal broke out.

Chaowana said the judges' decision to seek legal redress was motivated by a desire to protect the court's ability to serve justice, not to attack or enter into a dispute with any party in particular.

"When the need arises for the court to take action, we will strictly adhere to legal principles," he said.

On October 14, four videos and a slide show were posted anonymously on the popular YouTube video-sharing website. Three of the videos contain recordings, apparently by a hidden camera, of Constitution Court judges discussing the Democrat Party's dissolution case in their office.

The fourth video features Democrat MP Wiruch Romyen, a member of the party's defence team, meeting with Pasit at a Bangkok restaurant and talking about the case. This video was described by opposition politicians as lobbying the court for a favourable ruling.

The slide show has Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda sitting with senior judiciary figures, including Constitution Court president Chat Chonlaworn, with a caption suggesting that Prem was trying to influence the court to side with the Democrat Party. The photos were later found to have been taken during an awards presentation for outstanding alumni from Thammasat University's Faculty of Law.

Sanit Jon-anan, the head of the court's committee investigating the videos, said his panel would complete its task within the assigned 15-day time frame.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit submitted a letter to the court's secretary-general asking for the probe team to examine the contents of the videos. He also submitted a letter and copies of the four videos to Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond, suggesting that he initiate legal proceedings against the judges who made defamatory remarks against him in some of the videos.

Democrat MP Wirat Kalayasiri, another member of the party's defence team, said the party would this morning submit its closing writ to the Constitution Court regarding the dissolution case in which the party is accused of misusing the Political Party Fund.

-- The Nation 2010-10-28

[chantorn]

Anyone writing in here will be treated as a criminal.

See you in court.

"we will strictly adhere to legal principles"

I wonder if it included the said meeting in the clip?

Oops, how can I delete my comment?

Edited October 28, 2010 by chantorn

[Tokay]

So the judge was captured on video doing something wrong, the video gets out, and the judge spins out of it as the victim?

Or did I read it wrong?

[whybother]

So the judge was captured on video doing something wrong, the video gets out, and the judge spins out of it as the victim?

Or did I read it wrong?

What did they do wrong?

[yellow1red1]

So the judge was captured on video doing something wrong, the video gets out, and the judge spins out of it as the victim?

Or did I read it wrong?

What did they do wrong?

Judges of the Constitution Court yesterday resolved to take legal action against people,,, Will someone answer? Judges of the Constitution Court yesterday resolved to take legal action against people

eh mebbe not

[rubl]

So the judge was captured on video doing something wrong, the video gets out, and the judge spins out of it as the victim?

Or did I read it wrong?

You did read wrong, or not read at all.

One video is a slideshow from a totally unrelated event long ago. Three videos of jugdes in their private meeting room discussing cases including Dem's case. One video of k. Pasit with two Dem's discussing how to approach the case with valuable witnesses.

K. Pasit may or may not have goaded the Dem's to be able to make the video. Unfortunately he fled the country. The Dem MP says k. Pasit made the initiative for the meeting.

The judges are victims as some try to position them as prejudiced. The link to the video slideshow with k. Prem is proven to be totally unrelated, but for the uninformed suggests something wrong. The video with k. Pasit suggest the judges may or may not have known. It's simply a matter of putting doubt on the court AND any decision they may make in the case of the Dem's. In other words 'diry politics'.

[rubl]

So the judge was captured on video doing something wrong, the video gets out, and the judge spins out of it as the victim?

Or did I read it wrong?

What did they do wrong?

Judges of the Constitution Court yesterday resolved to take legal action against people,,, Will someone answer? Judges of the Constitution Court yesterday resolved to take legal action against people

eh mebbe not

A small piece of the puzzle:

people accusing them of favouring ...

[chantorn]

BANGKOK: -- Judges of the Constitution Court yesterday resolved to take legal action against people....

So it will be a case of Judges vs People.

If let say, the Judges lose, can they also claim, technically, they are also people, so they can switch to the wining side (the people side).

Edited October 28, 2010 by chantorn

[chuang]

BANGKOK: -- Judges of the Constitution Court yesterday resolved to take legal action against people....

[/b]

So the judges have something to hide.....as long as you are not with Ahbisit government you are enemy of the state..

[slapout]

If the judges have been wrongly portrayed, slandered. etc, why in the name of justice would you threaten to take legal action against the wrong doers? You need to know when to hold em, when to fold em, and when to bluff, this sounds like a bluff in a pot limit game when the judge has limited funds to continue the hand.

[whybother]

BANGKOK: -- Judges of the Constitution Court yesterday resolved to take legal action against people....

[/b]

So the judges have something to hide.....as long as you are not with Ahbisit government you are enemy of the state..

The judges have nothing to hide. They will presenting their decision with detailed reasoning towards the end of the year. Their may even be dissenting views, as has happened in recent Constitution court cases.

[rubl]

BANGKOK: -- Judges of the Constitution Court yesterday resolved to take legal action against people....

[/b]

So the judges have something to hide.....as long as you are not with Ahbisit government you are enemy of the state..

Interesting conclusion. From "The judges decide to take legal action against people accusing them of favouring the Democrat Party in the dissolution case and the unidentified people behind the release of damaging videos of a confidential meeting of the judges in their chambers." to 'they have something to hide'

In most countries filming in judges private rooms without permit would be illegal and punishable by law. K. Pasit seems to have known he did something at least controversial having fled. The slideshow is unrelated, but used to 'suggest' a prejudice for the Dem's. To just ignore these slights would cause even more to say 'see they think they're above the law'. To take legal action against unlawfull activities seems proper.

As for 'not for Abhisit, you must be against', keep in mind that k. Thaksin recently won a defamation suite against k. Sondhi. The judicial system works.

[chantorn]

BANGKOK: -- Judges of the Constitution Court yesterday resolved to take legal action against people....

[/b]

So the judges have something to hide.....as long as you are not with Ahbisit government you are enemy of the state..

The judges have nothing to hide. They will presenting their decision with detailed reasoning towards the end of the year. Their may even be dissenting views, as has happened in recent Constitution court cases.

They will presenting their decision with detailed reasoning:

If you have a glass half full / half empty:

"I ban this class, becuase it is half empty"

"I accept this glass bacuase it is half full"

As no one can challenge the judges, the judes can, theoretically work backward if necessary, ie conclude on a verdict, and detail the reasoning to support it. However, I do not think Thai judges will do such things. maybe judges in North Korea or Burma, or Cuba, ...

[TAWP]

This thread highlights what I mention earlier and why I think it is wrong of Nick Nostitz to pull out the same threat against some forum-posters.

(For the record, I have never criticized - as far as I can remember - his posts or views. Yet.)

[chantorn]

This thread highlights what I mention earlier and why I think it is wrong of Nick Nostitz to pull out the same threat against some forum-posters.

(For the record, I have never criticized - as far as I can remember - his posts or views. Yet.)

Please provided the said link.

[TAWP]

This thread highlights what I mention earlier and why I think it is wrong of Nick Nostitz to pull out the same threat against some forum-posters.

(For the record, I have never criticized - as far as I can remember - his posts or views. Yet.)

Please provided the said link.

There is no said link.

[jayboy]

[quote name=chuang

' timestamp='1288252361' post='3985932]

BANGKOK: -- Judges of the Constitution Court yesterday resolved to take legal action against people....

[/b]

So the judges have something to hide.....as long as you are not with Ahbisit government you are enemy of the state..

The judges have nothing to hide. They will presenting their decision with detailed reasoning towards the end of the year. Their may even be dissenting views, as has happened in recent Constitution court cases.

I agree totally and resent the implication that the Thai Courts are subject to political direction, especially from members of an unelected elite.This has never been the case nor has there ever been any instance of corruption in the courts.The neutrality and sea green incorruptibility of thr Thai courts is known and admired round the world.I particularly have scorn for those who maintain the Democrats route to power was ventriloquised through illegal coups, military imposed constitutions and corrupt deals with scumbag politicians.Anyone who believes any of this is naive and plain wrong headed.These people even believe that judges have been summoned specifically to come to positions that contradict the will of the Thai people.Shame on them.Most of these critics are in the pay of Thaksin anyway.

[chantorn]

[quote name=chuang

' timestamp='1288252361' post='3985932]

BANGKOK: -- Judges of the Constitution Court yesterday resolved to take legal action against people....

[/b]

So the judges have something to hide.....as long as you are not with Ahbisit government you are enemy of the state..

The judges have nothing to hide. They will presenting their decision with detailed reasoning towards the end of the year. Their may even be dissenting views, as has happened in recent Constitution court cases.

I agree totally and resent the implication that the Thai Courts are subject to political direction, especially from members of an unelected elite.This has never been the case nor has there ever been any instance of corruption in the courts.The neutrality and sea green incorruptibility of thr Thai courts is known and admired round the world.I particularly have scorn for those who maintain the Democrats route to power was ventriloquised through illegal coups, military imposed constitutions and corrupt deals with scumbag politicians.Anyone who believes any of this is naive and plain wrong headed.These people even believe that judges have been summoned specifically to come to positions that contradict the will of the Thai people.Shame on them.Most of these critics are in the pay of Thaksin anyway.

"The neutrality of the Thai courts is known and admired round the world"

Fully agree with you.

[animatic]

It amazes me many of the comments from those who clearly

do not understand the topic but pontificate none the less.

[phiphidon]

It amazes me many of the comments from those who clearly

do not understand the topic but pontificate none the less.

Pray tell me your understanding of the topic less I feel obliged to pontificate upon it.

[animatic]

It amazes me many of the comments from those who clearly

do not understand the topic but pontificate none the less.

Pray tell me your understanding of the topic less I feel obliged to pontificate upon it.

Plenty of examples previously posted about here.

[monkfish]

So did we all see the new video clips released on Friday?

Not much the news so far.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ohmygod3009#g/u

[monkfish]

For more information on content go to Bangkok post

and search "New video puts more pressure on court" Its in politics section

[rubl]

So did we all see the new video clips released on Friday?

Not much the news so far.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ohmygod3009#g/u

Just more of the same. k. Jatuporn mentioned clips last month, k Prompong confirmed a day before clips were posted. I normally don't put much faith in 'conspiracy theories', but this time it all seems so neatly timed. Less respect for the constitutional court, suggestions of corruption, helping Dem's. In other words, 'dear PTP/UDD/red-shirt supporters, we told you this government can't be trusted', 'const. court is prejudiced', 'let's burn Bangkok again'.

When in 2001 k. Thaksin was cleared from his 'honest mistake' case with clear pressure orchestrated by TRT, I didn't hear them say anything about prejudice.

Still waiting for k. Pasit to return from his convenient absence.

[phiphidon]

So did we all see the new video clips released on Friday?

Not much the news so far.

http://www.youtube.c...ohmygod3009#g/u

Just more of the same. k. Jatuporn mentioned clips last month, k Prompong confirmed a day before clips were posted. I normally don't put much faith in 'conspiracy theories', but this time it all seems so neatly timed. Less respect for the constitutional court, suggestions of corruption, helping Dem's. In other words, 'dear PTP/UDD/red-shirt supporters, we told you this government can't be trusted', 'const. court is prejudiced', 'let's burn Bangkok again'.

When in 2001 k. Thaksin was cleared from his 'honest mistake' case with clear pressure orchestrated by TRT, I didn't hear them say anything about prejudice.

Still waiting for k. Pasit to return from his convenient absence.

So more conjecture, I'm not sure that 'dear PTP/UDD/red-shirt supporters, we told you this government can't be trusted', 'const. court is prejudiced', 'let's burn Bangkok again' is the reasoning behind the release of the videos. Perhaps, just perhaps, once the dust has cleared from the distraction techniques used by the Courts e.g threatening the media with lawsuits for discussing the videos , arranging for Pasits' passport to be revoked, etc the facts may come out.

In these new clips there is apparently another "allegation" regarding the leakage of exam papers to prospective applicants for recruitment (close to the Judges, in one case a Judges son). They are heard clearly talking about what they would do, should knowledge of the alleged exam fraud become known. The answer? Dismiss the tapes as doctored and blame a former court official.

And they worry that their reputation may be damaged?

[jdinasia]

BANGKOK: -- Judges of the Constitution Court yesterday resolved to take legal action against people....

[/b]

So the judges have something to hide.....as long as you are not with Ahbisit government you are enemy of the state..

I'd be careful about impugning the judges in Thailand if I were you. Several PTP people may find themselves in jail for quite awhile after their parliamentary immunity is no longer in place.

[monkfish]

Looks like the courts made a correct decision and there is now 1 less political prisoner!

Pity they had to wait so long poor beggar.

Court dismisses case of homeless scavenger arrested under Emergency Decree

The case of a homeless scavenger has been dismissed by the court after over 5 months’ detention in prison.

On 29 Oct, Pathumwan District Court dismissed the case against Somphol Wangprasert who was prosecuted for violating the Emergency Decree by conspiring with four or more other people to gather and instigate public unrest and using roads prohibited under the decree.

cont...

http://www.prachatai3.info/english/node/2116?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+prachataienglish+%28Prachatai+in+English%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

[Robby nz]

It would appear thet the PTP, reds, are convinced that they have lost and the Dems will not be disbanded.

If this were not the case then why would they go to the trouble of trying to discredit the judges and therefore any decision they make before a decision has been reached?

[chantorn]

Looks like the courts made a correct decision and there is now 1 less political prisoner!

Pity they had to wait so long poor beggar.

Court dismisses case of homeless scavenger arrested under Emergency Decree

The case of a homeless scavenger has been dismissed by the court after over 5 months' detention in prison.

On 29 Oct, Pathumwan District Court dismissed the case against Somphol Wangprasert who was prosecuted for violating the Emergency Decree by conspiring with four or more other people to gather and instigate public unrest and using roads prohibited under the decree.

cont...

http://www.prachatai...t=Google+Reader

after over 5 months' detention in prison

[Buchholz]

Looks like the courts made a correct decision

Did he defame the Constitution Court judges?

Was he sued for defamation?