Democrats file defamation writ against PM, TRT

Published on February 4, 2005

The Democrat Party yesterday filed a plaintiff’s writ charging Thai Rak Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra and five other defendants with defamation relating to the stickers allegedly bearing Royal quotes.

The other defendants are the Thai Rak Thai party itself, party candidate Sita Divari for Bangkok Constituency 9, party spokesman Suranand Vejjajiva, Metropolitan Police Region 5 commander Maj-General Kosin Hinthao and Daily News editor Pracha Hetrakul.

The plaintiff contends that on Monday of last week, the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) seized 3,000 stickers in Klong Toei, Constituency 9.

The stickers allegedly bore two separate statements from Their Majesties the King and Queen.

The first statement allegedly quoted Her Majesty as saying, “There is no shame in poverty. Dishonesty is the real shame.”

The second statement allegedly quoted His Majesty as saying, “The richer people are, the more of a cheat they might be. Cheaters be cursed.”

Last Friday, Thaksin accused the Democrats of underhanded campaign tactics, including the printing of stickers that misquoted Royal statements.

His remarks were published in the Daily News, expressing his own and his party’s views that the Democrats were putting up a desperate fight without regard to any damage that might be caused.

Acting on Thaksin’s lead, Sita alleged publicly that he had evidence linking the Democrats to the stickers.

Kosin volunteered a press statement alleging that the stickers were seized from a Democrat branch headquarters in Klong Toei.

Pracha published the statements by Thaksin, Sita and Kosin without verifying the truth of what they said, the Democrats charge.

The defendants are alleged to have maliciously made and circulated false statements for the sole purpose of discrediting the Democrats.

The Criminal Court will convene on April 25 to establish whether the case merits a judicial review.

In regard to the police investigation into the case,

two Democrats – deputy party leader Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich and Constituency 9 candidate Thanom Onketphol – sought and received permission to give police their statements next week.

The two were summoned to report for questioning yesterday but sought a delay, citing their busy campaign schedules ahead of next Sunday’s general election.

Sita met with investigators to submit additional evidence that he claimed was proof of Democrat involvement.

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