Thai police weigh libel for woman's anti-cop rant

[webfact]

Police Weigh Libel for Woman’s Anti-Cop Rant
By Teernai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Sukanya Laiban, at left, sits Friday with police Col. Sompong Thip-aphakul, right, at a Krabi police station.

KRABI — Police say they are mulling charges of defamation against a woman who allegedly berated a traffic police officer in a video posted online.

Sukanya Laiban, 23, met with police Friday and admitted to posting the video to rant against the officer for telling her not to park in a restricted area, but the commander of Krabi Police Station is adamant she should face criminal charges for her inflammatory words.

“She conceded that she was angry when she made the video, so we reprimanded her,” police Col. Sompong Thip-aphakul told Khaosod English. “We have not charged her with any crime so far, but I think she will be, because I already assigned my officers to look into it.”

According to Sompong, one of his officers, Prathum Srichanapai, was on patrol in Krabi town center when he spotted Sukanya parking illegally near an intersection, so he told her to move her car.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1447582806&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2015-11-16

[terryp]

amazing corrupt thailand!.....EVERYONE knows what the police in thailand are about , and Krabi rtp are no different in fact i would say worse speaking from my experience in that place , in fact Ao Nang which is part of Krabi police have a stunning record of being inept as the past rapes, murders on tourists that end in a complete mess prove

[Somtamnication]

Both are idiots.

[torpedo1970]

"He said the police are planning to charge her with defamation under the Computer Crimes Act."

The latter is a draconian law that forbids a wide range of actions on the internet, such as making statements that are “false” or “defamatory” to others. The charge carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison.

Wow

Glad to know that RTP dont know about TV, and do not have Language capabilities to grasp what is written about them...

[Bluespunk]

She should have just stolen his bike keys and ran off.

Much less serious offence.

[z42]

I agree with the lady's sentiment, but she should have done it anonymously on pantip or something where the Thais will actually really get behind it and discuss it. Having her face visible and her unique msn name on the youtube video is plain silly. And now she is gonna pay because she's a nobody and an easy target they can bully. Pathetic

[Happy Grumpy]

How Thais react to being reprimanded for their wrong, selfish and ignorant actions.

Get caught out - explode with anger at the person who caught them. Often exploding with a level of anger that is uncontrollable to them.

Disgusting social trait, and highly indicative of a people that are emotionally stunted at the level of a spoiled, 5 year old.

[clockman]

The truth always hurts!

[LannaGuy]

she should not have posted but what other Police force in the world even considers suing for defamation against one of their sensitive officers? it's absurd

[oneday]

Children.

Stick and stones...instead of accepting her apology they want to ruin her life. Who are the real bad people here?

[klauskunkel]

Now she can rant about the coming libel suit, maybe this time she will give it some more thought on how to do it best, then again maybe not.

Edited November 16, 2015 by klauskunkel

[Seastallion]

"“We have not charged her with any crime so far, but I think she will be, because .....""

"...because by that statement, we are leaving it open. If she comes up with some money, then of course no charges will be laid, however is she's too poor....well, the law is the law."

[godden]

What's the saying " you can't polish a turd"

[ggt]

There is no freedom of expression in Thailand...they are so concerned with saving their faces...they forget that it is just words...ignoring them will usually make them go away...a country filled with elementary school children in official positions...sad commentary on the Thais future...IMHO

[trogers]

How Thais react to being reprimanded for their wrong, selfish and ignorant actions.

Get caught out - explode with anger at the person who caught them. Often exploding with a level of anger that is uncontrollable to them.

Disgusting social trait, and highly indicative of a people that are emotionally stunted at the level of a spoiled, 5 year old.

People who bought driving licenses do not know the Highway Code, and they do not need to...

So, why blame her actions when she said the police needs to point out the Highway Code to her for the rest of her driving days...

Just cause and effect between ministries - Interior vs Transport...

[smedly]

How Thais react to being reprimanded for their wrong, selfish and ignorant actions.

Get caught out - explode with anger at the person who caught them. Often exploding with a level of anger that is uncontrollable to them.

Disgusting social trait, and highly indicative of a people that are emotionally stunted at the level of a spoiled, 5 year old.

you nailed it

[Strangebrew]

Children, children stick and stones may break your bones but names will never hurt you. The proper reaction should have was to tow the smart mouthed girls car and a huge fine.

[bangon04]

It must have been a bad rant, because the Royal Thai Police Farce usually demonstrates an inability to feel shame / loss of face, despite their frequent and blatant displays of gross incompetence, which is often pointed out on social media (not just by Farangs).

[Srikcir]

How Thais react to being reprimanded for their wrong, selfish and ignorant actions.

Get caught out - explode with anger at the person who caught them. Often exploding with a level of anger that is uncontrollable to them.

Disgusting social trait, and highly indicative of a people that are emotionally stunted at the level of a spoiled, 5 year old.

you nailed it

Disgusting social traits are not in themselves criminal. While being an offensive or rude person is an undesirable attitude in most societies, such attitudes may arise from involuntary or trained behaviors that transcend society norms. Lack of conformance to society ethical standards by that measure is not criminal, albeit undesirable for a productive society.

However, in a society that is defined by one person's standards whose himself might in other societies be judged as having disgusting social traits. Communist USSR viewed political opposition or dissent as a psychiatric problem when people disagreed with the country's Communist leaders. This was even legislated in criminal code under Article 70 "Anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda" and Article 190-1 "Dissemination of fabrications known to be false, which defame the Soviet political and social system." Sound familiar?

Rather it should be the actions one might take motivated by one's social traits that should be considered criminal where those actions cause REAL harm such as physical injury or economic loss. Even then the criminal consequences (as opposed to civil consequences) in many societies may be mitigated, ie., by treatment of insanity or psycologically disturbed.

The Thai police considering charges of libel against Sukanya is in itself reflects a disgusting trait. Individual criticism of police regardless of whether it is true or not serves as a check and balance on law enforcement behavior. Where it is viewed as inappropriate or untrue by law enforcement, it should be addressed publically with public education, not punishment.

[DLang]

she should not have posted but what other Police force in the world even considers suing for defamation against one of their sensitive officers? it's absurd

Yeah, in Merka the cop would have just shot her dead.

[LannaGuy]

she should not have posted but what other Police force in the world even considers suing for defamation against one of their sensitive officers? it's absurd

Yeah, in Merka the cop would have just shot her dead.

oh she is black?

[WitawatWatawit]

This police colonel is so thick that he could not see a golden chance presented to him to both educate the public and gain some browny points. Instead of being a disgusting bully, as per normal for Thai "police", he should have equally gone public and turned the silly woman's words against her.

* Rant all you like lady, but you broke the law - your friends should chide you for this.

* Rant all you like lady, but the officer didn't book you, just asked you to move. And you criticise him???

* You want to be a model citizen? Don't arrogantly break the law.

* By attacking an officer for doing his job, you are being anti-social. Stop being arrogant and Grow up

Etc.

[samsensam]

she cant be guilty because no one is pointing at her in the photo.

[LannaGuy]

she cant be guilty because no one is pointing at her in the photo.

That's right but they don't want to miss that photo op and add to her humiliation

jeeze

[Brer Fox]

Sometimes I am in need of a bit of berating and I would be delighted to have this this lovely looking young lady fulfill that need. The cop can consider himself fortunate it wasn't some snaggle toothed old hag who gave him an ear full. The guy at the back seems to think she is a bit of alright and worth taking a photo of. And I am wondering who the guy in the straw trilby is. I suspect he is related to the offender and has something in his pocket to help resolve the matter.

[FBlue72]

"Reputation Over Substance"....Should be the nation's motto. Criticism is vital in a heathy, growing, and mature society. Just proof number 46,828,355 that Thailand is anything but.

These criminal libel laws should be addressed by the UN as human rights violations.

[realenglish1]

Typical Thai reaction to a situation. Same in politics No restraint No understanding of the real thing.

Why do you think there is a political crisis here in Thailand For the same reason the emotion was displayed here. Thais are told to hide their emotion until it explodes and not for the real reason it explodes.

In the west we are taught to be in touch with our feelings and here in the East told to hide them

So its no wonder you have an immature attitude shown by this woman. Most Thais react this way

So sad

[Baerboxer]

she should not have posted but what other Police force in the world even considers suing for defamation against one of their sensitive officers? it's absurd

I agree with you (for once). The defamation laws are here are absurd and when used by the military and police that absurdity is magnified.

But she was totally in the wrong. Typical Thai she parks her vehicle where she fancies, regardless of whether it's legal or an inconvenience to others. He asked her to move it. He didn't threaten to give her a ticket, or clamp it, or extort a bribe for not doing so. Simply told her to move. Of course she goes ape because she's so important and the rules don't apply to her. Mouths off and accuses him of planting drugs on motorists.

The Thai defamation laws seem absurd to us, but then so does this silly woman's OTT behavior.

Wonder what would have happened if that scenario was played out in the US?

[mercman24]

the end of the day she was totally in the wrong, but i do think the cops are making a mountain out of a molehill, a rollicking would have been suffice,but now they are starting to look more stupid than the silly little girl, what is she 23, going on 12 year old ??

[wabothai]

She has not learned yet not to step on RTP small weenies.