THAILAND: Defamation law being misused, seminar told

The Press Council of Thailand campaigns against misuse of the defamation law through seminars

Bangkok Post
Monday, January 10, 2005

The Press Council of Thailand is campaigning against misuse of the defamation law to persecute people fighting corruption.

It is distributing copies of past seminar results and plans another seminar to push for amendments to the law and improve its implementation.

President Pongsak Payakvichien said the council had received a positive response from the public after organising a seminar on justice in the use of the defamation law last October.

That seminar concluded the law was being abused against individuals and parties which complained against corrupt government officials and politicians.

The Press Council will publish 10,000 copies of the seminar results and send them to cabinet, the House of Representatives, the Senate, government agencies and the public, to push for amendments to protect those who fought graft for society's good, Mr Pongsak said.

The council will organise another seminar at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre on Thursday to discuss appropriate legal amendments with authorities who enforce the defamation law.

It would invite to the seminar representatives of the courts, the National Police Office, Office of the Attorney-General, the Law Society, parties, parliament, the Campaign for Media Reform, the Foundation for Consumers, and the Rights and Liberties Protection Department.

Date Posted: 1/10/2005