Thaksin: Fugitive from law sues for criminal defamation

In school we learn to debate like scholars & gentlemen, but in Thai politics rich guys attack poor journalists with criminal defamation suits.

THE LAW & THE MEDIA

Thaksin: Fugitive from the law uses law to sue for criminal defamation

30/03/2017
Online Reporters

Thaksin Shinawatra has filed criminal defamation and computer crime lawsuits against a Thai Post newspaper columnist and a news agency.

Criminal defamation lawsuits are certainly an expensive way of engaging in a public debate over the truth which the media and newspapers, in particular, are supposed to foster.

They are also used to suppress the legitimate watchdog and truthseeking activities of journalists and activists, as in the recent Andy Hall and Wyn Ellis cases. 

FUGITIVE FROM LAW HAS LEGAL RIGHT TO USE THE LAW AS WEAPON?

Some might also find it strange that a fugitive from the law with outstanding warrants for his arrest can use the law and his lawyers in the country he faces criminal charges to bully journalists writing about him.

If a politician or tycoon flees the country instead of fighting the charges against him in a court of law, some say he should lose his legal rights, specifically his right to legal maneuvering by lawyers on his behalf, this is the gist of a recent move by constitutional drafters that seems to make sense (see here). 

In the past Thaksin has actually made journalists famous by attacking them with criminal defamation suits

Supinya Klangnarong became a free speech hero and made it all the way to the board of Thailand's national telecommunications regulator, the NBTC (see photo on right).

THAKSIN CRIMINAL DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST JOURNALIST

Chumsai Sriyapai, Thaksin's lawyer, filed charges on Thaksin's behalf against the writer by the pen-name Pleoi Si-ngern at the Thai-language daily with the Technology Crime Suppression Division on Thursday.

Thaksin accused the journalist of defamation and breaking the computer crime law.

The journalist is accused of writing in his "Plai Soi" column that Thaksin intentionally evaded the tax on the Shin Corp share deal.

The article was published on March 27 in the newspaper and on the newspaper's website.

WHAT DID THE JOURNALIST SAY?

The columnist also accused Revenue Department officials of taking Thaksin's orders when they did not assess and collect the tax.

"This is not true. They did not do it because the deadline had passed and it could not be done," he said.

HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REDSHIRT KOTEE, THAKSIN CLAIMS

Mr Chumsai said Thaksin also pressed similar charges against TNews for accusing him of being part of the Wuthipong "Kotee" Kochathamakun group and Charupong Ruangsuwan.

The fugitive ex-prime minister also sought legal action against those involved including the owner of the "Prach Samsi" Facebook, who had allegedly started the accusations.

FOR MORE HISTORICAL DEBATES GALORE ..... 

To raise many other issues about Thaksin's questionable activities while Prime Minister just open the book Thai Capital after the 1997 crisis and turn to the telecommunications chapter.

Here is a quote from this academic scholarly text and established classic on Thai political economy on Thaksin's business activities, conflicts of interest and lack of transparency during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis that has surely stimulated some debates in the past and could well continue to do so:

From page 110 of: Ukrist Pathmanand and Chris Baker (2008) "Hello and goodbye to the mobile phone" in Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker (eds) Thai Capital after the Asian Crisis. Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai.

The book is published by Silkworm Press, see here & available at the Thailand Information Center (TIC) at the 6th floor of Chulalongkorn University's Central Library).

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1223916/thaksin-sues-thai-post-columnist-tnews

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