A rumour has been circulating Shin Corp would drop its lawsuit if Supinya and Thai Post refrained from commenting on the alleged conflict of interest Prime Minister Thaksin Shina-watra faced as leader of the country and Shin Corp founder. Shin Corp is now owned by the Singaporean government’s investment arm, Temasek Holdings.

The widely repeated rumour said Shin Corp was negotiating with lawyers representing Supinya and Thai Post.

The suit was filed two years ago when Shin Corp was owned by Thaksin’s family. It alleged libel over Supinya’s accusation that the conglomerate had a mutually beneficial relationship with the Thaksin administration and the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party.

“We have never thought of demanding anything from them,” Supinya told The Nation. “If they want to simply withdraw the lawsuit then ‘thank you’. But to withdraw under such a condition would not be fair to society or myself.”

Although she had been advised to write a letter to Temasek, she has not had time to do so and had not even decided whether or not she would, Supinya said.

She is secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Media Reform, which is part of the newly created People’s Alliance for Democracy, which aims to oust the prime minister for his alleged corruption and abuse of power.

Ubonrat Siriyuwasak, chairperson of the Campaign for Popular Media Reform, found the rumour disquieting.

“[The government] is spreading the rumour to create rifts within the people’s movement,” Ubonrat said. “What is the objective of wanting to silence Supinya?” asked Ubonrat, a lecturer of mass communications at Chulalongkorn University.

Supinya’s co-defendant Roj Ngam-maen, also denied the rumour, saying Shin Corp needed to ask his permission if it wanted to drop the lawsuit.

The Criminal Court is scheduled to rule on the libel case in the middle of next month and, analysts say, a victory for Supinya would deal yet another blow to the embattled premier.

Pravit Rojanaphruk,

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

The Nation