Thaksin loses libel suit appeal

The Appeals Court Tuesday upheld the Criminal Court's ruling rejecting a defamation lawsuit filed by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the Thai Rak Thai against Sondhi Limthongkul and 10 others.

Thaksin and the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai alleged that Sondhi, owner of Manager Media Group, had defamed him during a seminar on May 24 and 25 2006. The seminar was titled "The Finland Declaration - Thai Rak Thai's strategy to rule Thailand".

Other defendants included former senator Chirmsak Pinthong and two academics - Chai-anan Samudvanijaya and Pramote Nakhonthap.

The Appeals Court upheld the ruling of the Criminal Court that the seminar did not state at all that Thaksin had really made an agreement, called the Finland Declaration.

The Appeals Court ruled that Sondhi and other panellists of the seminar had their right to question the work of Thaksin because he was then the prime minister and a public figure.

The Appeals Court also ruled that ASTV and the Manager website had done nothing wrong by broadcasting the seminar.

The Nation