TRT Sues Manager Media For Libel

[Jai Dee]

TRT sues Manager Media for libel

The Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party yesterday filed a criminal libel lawsuit against the Manager Media Group, its executives and a columnist for a controversial series on the so-called Finland Declaration which is alleged to have defamed the party and its leader, caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

TRT will also file a multi-million-baht civil lawsuit this Friday against Sondhi Limthongkul – a key leader of the anti-Thaksin People’s Alliance for Democracy – and other affiliates for alleged libelous comments made last week on his mobile talk show Thailand This Week.

The new wave of lawsuits by Thaksin and TRT against arch-critic Sondhi and his media company is reminiscent of last year’s legal battle between them that resulted in a multitudes of lawsuits flying both ways, which were all dropped after His Majesty the King spoke of accepting “constructive criticism” in his annual address to the nation on December 4, the eve of his birthday.

TRT and Thaksin’s lawyer, Thana Benjathikul, filed the suit with the Criminal Court yesterday morning.

Named as defendants were the Manager Media Group, Phoojadkarn Daily Publishing Editor Khunthong Lawserivanich, its Plan Administrator Savalak Thiranujanyong, Website Officer Panchaphat Angkhasuwan and Pramote Nakhonthab, author of the ‘Thinking of Thailand’ column, which allegedly linked Thaksin with the Finland Declaration conspiracy theory.

It was published by the Phoojadkarn Daily newspaper and featured on its website for the past two weeks.

The plaintiffs allege that the printing of Pramote’s column constituted an act of libel since it accuses them of hatching an unsubstantiated conspiracy to change the system of government.

“The column defamed the PM by claiming that he is trying to derail democracy….Furthermore, with the allegations of the Finland Declaration it accused him of trying to topple Thailand’s traditional system of governance,” said Thana.

Thana added he will file a civil lawsuit seeking up to a billion baht in compensation against Sondhi, former Bangkok senator Sopol Supapong and ThaiDay Dot Com for linking Thaksin and TRT with the Finland Declaration on the mobile Thailand This Week talk show at Lumpini Park on May 20.

Further, Thana said that participants at a Thammasat University seminar on May 24, including Sondhi, Pramote, former Bangkok senator Chirmsak Pinthong and academic Chai-anan Samudavanija, who discussed the Finland Declaration and the TRT may also face similar legal action.

The Criminal Court accepted the case and set August 7 as the date for the first hearing.

Source: ThaiDay - 31 May 2006

[Jai Dee]

Lawyer Thana Benchathikul, centre, who represents Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, shows a copy of his libel lawsuit filed against ‘Phujadkarn’ newspaper and the website manager.co.th over their coverage of the ‘Finland Plot’ allegation.

Source: The Nation - 31 May 2006

[penzman]

TRT sues Manager Media for libel

The Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party yesterday filed a criminal libel lawsuit against the Manager Media Group, its executives and a columnist for a controversial series on the so-called Finland Declaration which is alleged to have defamed the party and its leader, caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

TRT will also file a multi-million-baht civil lawsuit this Friday against Sondhi Limthongkul – a key leader of the anti-Thaksin People’s Alliance for Democracy – and other affiliates for alleged libelous comments made last week on his mobile talk show Thailand This Week.

The new wave of lawsuits by Thaksin and TRT against arch-critic Sondhi and his media company is reminiscent of last year’s legal battle between them that resulted in a multitudes of lawsuits flying both ways, which were all dropped after His Majesty the King spoke of accepting “constructive criticism” in his annual address to the nation on December 4, the eve of his birthday.

TRT and Thaksin’s lawyer, Thana Benjathikul, filed the suit with the Criminal Court yesterday morning.

Named as defendants were the Manager Media Group, Phoojadkarn Daily Publishing Editor Khunthong Lawserivanich, its Plan Administrator Savalak Thiranujanyong, Website Officer Panchaphat Angkhasuwan and Pramote Nakhonthab, author of the ‘Thinking of Thailand’ column, which allegedly linked Thaksin with the Finland Declaration conspiracy theory.

It was published by the Phoojadkarn Daily newspaper and featured on its website for the past two weeks.

The plaintiffs allege that the printing of Pramote’s column constituted an act of libel since it accuses them of hatching an unsubstantiated conspiracy to change the system of government.

“The column defamed the PM by claiming that he is trying to derail democracy….Furthermore, with the allegations of the Finland Declaration it accused him of trying to topple Thailand’s traditional system of governance,” said Thana.

Thana added he will file a civil lawsuit seeking up to a billion baht in compensation against Sondhi, former Bangkok senator Sopol Supapong and ThaiDay Dot Com for linking Thaksin and TRT with the Finland Declaration on the mobile Thailand This Week talk show at Lumpini Park on May 20.

Further, Thana said that participants at a Thammasat University seminar on May 24, including Sondhi, Pramote, former Bangkok senator Chirmsak Pinthong and academic Chai-anan Samudavanija, who discussed the Finland Declaration and the TRT may also face similar legal action.

The Criminal Court accepted the case and set August 7 as the date for the first hearing.

Source: ThaiDay - 31 May 2006

How quickly they forget, or simply just don't care.

[Netfan]

How quickly they forget, or simply just don't care.

Desperation. Arrogance. They just don't care. Whatever it is, it's pathetic.

[Ricardo]

How quickly they forget, or simply just don't care.

Desperation. Arrogance. They just don't care. Whatever it is, it's pathetic.

Court-cases to repress freedom-of-speech, a PM who resigned publicly on TV and is now back chairing weekly cabinet-meetings, my God - it's deja-vue all over again !