THAILAND: Thai Rak Thai sues papers, Democrats, People's Alliance for Democracy

Prime Minister upset with claims published in Manager Daily, Krungthep Thurakij, Post Today and Thai Post newspapers that he sold nation's assets

Bangkok Post
Friday, March 24, 2006

By Tul Pinkaew

The Thai Rak Thai party is pressing multiple charges against government opponents and newspapers on grounds ranging from defamation to obstruction of democracy. Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday filed a complaint against four core leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy and four newspapers for defaming him over his family's sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.

Mr Thaksin yesterday authorised lawyer Chatri Tharipapassaro to file a complaint with Crime Suppression Division commander Pol Maj-Gen Winai Thongsong against the Manager Daily, Krungthep Thurakij, Post Today and Thai Post newspapers and four PAD leaders -- Sondhi Limthongkul, Pibhop Dhongchai, Somsak Kosaisuk and Somkiart Pongpaiboon.

In the complaint, Mr Thaksin accused the four PAD leaders of labelling him as someone who sold the nation's assets after his family sold Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings.

The remarks and speeches were made during PAD rallies in February. The four newspapers published the speeches.

Mr Chatri said Chamlong Srimuang, another PAD leader, did not face the defamation complaint because he joined the PAD-led rallies after February.

The Thai Rak Thai party is also preparing to lodge around 30 more suits against Mr Sondhi by highlighting his allegations that the government was behind the March 21 attack on the revered Brahman statue at the famous Erawan Shrine.

Thai Rak Thai list candidate Kuthep Saikrajang, a representative of the party's legal team headed by deputy party leader Bhokin Balakula, said the April 2 election would go ahead as scheduled.

The party was compiling Mr Sondhi's speeches against Mr Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai so it could file 20 to 30 lawsuits against him, especially over allegations that Mr Thaksin used black magic, he said.

The move began with yesterday's lodging of libel charges by Thai Rak Thai list hopeful Piraphan Palusuk and his team against the media tycoon, he said.

According to Mr Kuthep, the legal team would study how to seek legal action as the allegations by the demonstrators, especially Mr Sondhi and Maj-Gen Chamlong, that Mr Thaksin had resorted to Khmer black magic and the government had plotted the attack on the Brahman statue has damaged the country's reputation.

The rival Democrat party is also a target of the legal action. Thai Rak Thai list candidate Surachai Baojanya said he and several party members were suing the party, its leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban and spokesman Ong-art Khlampaiboon for accusing TRT of hiring candidates from small parties to run in the poll.

Mr Piraphan said that he and another list candidate, M.R. Damrongdit Disakul, had filed police charges against twin brothers Kaewsan and Kwansuang Atipho, both academics, for writing a book entitled Stop the Thaksin Regime. They said it slandered Mr Thaksin with the aim of inciting political violence and chaos.

Date Posted: 3/24/2006