A Thai historian is facing a legal charge for using comments by a former rector of Thammasat University in regard to the late prime minister Pridi Banomyong that were untrue.

Many fellow historians have sent emails in support of her, branding the case a threat to academic freedom.

Khunying Nongyao Chaiseree, former rector of Thammasat University, recently filed a defamation charge against Morakot Jewachinda, who wrote "The Images of Pridi Banomyong and Thai Politics, 1932-1983" published in 2000.

"The information published in the book was false and severely damaged my reputation," Nongyao told The Nation.

Nongyao said that the information Morakot quoted from Matichon newspaper published on May 9, 1983 that criticised her ignorance of Pridi's contribution to Thammasat University was unfounded.

"The statement quoted me as saying that Ajarn Pridi was only the founder of Thammasat and that he did not have a relationship with the university later on. It [the statement] was false.

"I never think of Pridi as a mere founder of Thammasat. His contributions to the university are immense," the former rector said.

Nongyao said she had already checked Matichon's May 9, 1983 edition and did not find the statement that Morakot had quoted in the book.

Morakot, who teaches history at Srinakharinwirot University- Prasarnmitr, has been summoned by the police to be informed about the charge and for questioning at Bang Khen police station today [Wednesday].

Morakot's book was developed from her MA thesis in 1993 at the History Department in Chulalong-korn University's faculty of fine arts.

It was published by the Office of the National Culture Commission in Ministry of Culture, to celebrate the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and included Pridi Banomyong's name in its calendar of Anniversaries of Great Personalities and Historic Events.

Pridi Banomyong was a former Prime Minister and senior statesman of Thailand. He was a leader of the 1932 Revolution that ended absolute Monarchy and paved the way for constitutional democracy in Thailand. He was also founder of Thammasat University.

Pridi's contribution to Thailand has been a controversial issue. He died in exile in France in May 1983 and the Thai government did not respond to public calls to organise a funeral rite for him as a senior statesman.

"From the time that Pridi began to play a part in politics in 1932 till after his departure from the political scene in 1947, his image has been constructed in two different ways, namely positively and negatively. Both these images have subsequently been used as political symbols," Morakot wrote in her book.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

The Nation