Chronology: Key developments
 The Nation
September 15: Channel 9 cancels a weekly live programme hosted by veteran journalist Sondhi Limthongkul, saying it improperly cited His Majesty the King and the monarchy on several occasions in the previous month.
The station's executives say the content of "Muangthai Rai Sapda" (Thailand Weekly), could cause public misunderstanding.
Sondhi vows to continue his weekly political talk show, which would turn into a popular public forum hosted first at Thammasat University and later at Lumpini Park. He later also made the show's content available on the satellite-based News1 television station from 10pm to 11.30pm every Friday.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 3: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's lawyer files defamation suits against Sondhi, demanding Bt500 million in damages. Thaksin names Manager Media Group founder Sondhi and Sarocha Porn-udomsak, co-host of "Muang Thai Rai Sapda", as co-defendants.
The libel lawsuits, filed by Thaksin's lawyer Noppadon Meewan, are the first brought by the premier since he took office in 2001. The suits claim that the talk show hosts repeatedly accused Thaksin of being disloyal to the monarchy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 11: Thaksin's lawyer files further defamation suits against the Manager newspaper, its publisher, and the manager of the media group's business-restructuring plan, demanding Bt500 million in damages.
The suits are in response to an article in the newspaper's September 27 edition, which cited strongly worded comments by Luangta Maha Bua against the prime minister. But Thaksin excludes the popular monk from the lawsuits.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 6: Thousands of people attend a rally calling for the prosecution of Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam on charges of lese majeste. More than 2,000 people submit copies of their identification cards to join the signature campaign. Wissanu had been a target of attacks by Manager Media Group.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 15: Public Relations Department director-general Dusadee Sinchirmsiri orders officials to stop the broadcast of "Muang Thai Rai Sapda" on cable TV on the grounds that it had been running without permission from the department.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 16: A senior military officer submits an open letter calling on Sondhi to stop involving the monarchy in his personal quarrel with Thaksin. The letter is signed by Maj-General Pruen Suwannathat, commander of the 1st Infantry Division of the Royal Guard, and delivered to Sondhi by military aide Major Thanasin Sukho.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 17: Thaksin wins a court order to gag Sondhi after his lawyer files a further set of civil lawsuits, demanding Bt1 billion in compensation from Sondhi and his media company.
The suits claim that the premier's reputation was damaged by an accusation that a multi-billion-baht satellite contract had been awarded illegitimately by the government to a company controlled by Thaksin's family.
Sources say the government will also block the www.manager.co.th website.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 18: Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva visits Sondhi to show morale support while Supreme Commander Gen Ruengroj Mahasaranond gives a stern warning that the armed forces will take action if Sondhi Limthongkul of Manager Media Group did not stop involving monarchy in his criticism on the premier.
Thousands of people attend the Thailand Weekly talks show at the Lumpini Park despite torrential rains. Sondhi focuses on attacking the government and discloses that a sister of Thaksin had used an Air Force plane for personal purpose. Sondhi also lets people to sign a petition to return the governing mandate to His Majesty at the end of the talk show.
© 2005 Nation Multimedia Group
44 Moo 10 Bang Na-Trat KM 4.5, Bang Na district, Bangkok 10260 Thailand
Tel 66-2-325-5555, 66-2-317-0420 and 66-2-316-5900 Fax 66-2-751-4446
|
