Published on October 12, 2005

Deputy PM Wissanu defends premier’s right to defend his name and reputation. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has acted in his personal capacity to sue Phujadkarn (Manager) newspaper for defamation and his court battle should not be construed as a persecution of the media, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krean-gam said yesterday.

“It is normal for an individual to try and protect one’s good name if offended and the courts would ensure justice, including the amount of compensation,” he said.

Wissanu was commenting

on yesterday’s filing of two criminal and civil suits against the newspaper for publishing a monk’s sermon that appeared to tarnish Thaksin’s reputation.

Plaintiff lawyer Noppadol Meewanna lodged the two suits on Thaksin’s behalf naming the newspaper, its rehabilitation plan manager Saowalak Theeranuchanyong and editor Khunthong Loseriwanit as defendants.

The civil case demands Bt500 million damages while the criminal litigation seeks the defendants be penalised for libel.

The plaintiff contends that the newspaper published the sermon of Luangta Maha Bua on September 28 even though it should have exercised professional judgement to edit slanderous comments.

The Criminal Court has scheduled to rule whether the case would merit a judicial review on November 18 and the Civil Court will rule on cause for compensation on March 24.

Thana Benjathikul, another plaintiff lawyer, said the Phujadkarn case was the litigation to repel malicious attacks against Thaksin, while another libel case against Phujadkarn founder Sondhi Limthongkul was about offences committed against Thaksin’s office.

The criminal and civil suits against Sondhi were filed on September 30.

Thana said the monk would not be involved in the court battle because it was deemed inappropriate to litigate against a holy man.

The newspaper defamed Thaksin by skewering the monk’s comments to portray him in a bad light, he said.

In a spate of 10 days, the newspaper and its founder were liable to pay Bt1 billion in damages if found guilty.

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