LIBEL ACTION: Thaksin takes aim at Sondhi
 The Nation
October 4 , 2005 - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday filed defamation suits against outspoken media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul, who was once a staunch supporter of the premier, demanding Bt500 million in damages, a lawyer close to the PM's family said.
Thaksin named Manager media group founder Sondhi and Sarocha Porn-udomsak, co-host of the weekly political talk show "Muang Thai Rai Sapda" (Thailand Weekly), as co-defendants in the suit filed with the Criminal Court.
Thana Benjathikul, who represents Thaksin's sister Yaowares Shinawatra in a separate defamation case, said the plaintiff accused the defendants of libel and defaming a government official.
Thaksin also filed a civil case against Sondhi, Sarocha and Thai Day Dot Com Co, which produces "Thailand Weekly", for infringement relating to the alleged libel. The plaintiff demanded Bt500 million in compensation, plus annual interest of 7.5 per cent.
Asked to comment on the lawsuits yesterday, Thaksin said media professionals should have respect for other individuals and they should not violate their rights.
But he said his decision to sue was influenced by his lawyer. "He suggested to me to do so, and I just signed," Thaksin said.
The libel lawsuits, filed by Thaksin's lawyer Noppadon Meewan, are the first brought by the premier since he took office in 2001.
The lawsuits claimed that the talk show hosts repeatedly accused Thaksin of being disloyal to the monarchy during the political programme aired on September 9 on state-run Channel 9.
"The two defendants took advantage of their role as media professionals to slander and falsely accuse the plaintiff beyond the boundary of media freedom. This brought a negative impact on the family members, the dignity and the personal life of the plaintiff," said the criminal lawsuit, a copy of which was posted on the Manager website.
Thana said the lawsuits referred to comments made by the hosts about the appointment of a group of senior monks to perform caretaker duties on behalf of the Supreme Patriarch, and irregularities regarding a government project in the North.
"Thailand Weekly" was axed by Channel 9 late last month because of what the station's management called repetition of "unfair" criticism of various parties and unnecessary comments about His Majesty the King.
Sondhi took "Thailand Weekly" on the road and staged it twice at Thammasat University, drawing thousands of fans with hard-hitting attacks on Thaksin and his government.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday he saw nothing wrong with Thaksin suing Sondhi. He said the prime minister did so in order to protect his honour, just like his predecessors.
Wissanu said both Chuan Leekpai and Banharn Silapa-archa filed libel suits against media organisations while serving as prime minister.
Democrat Party deputy spokesman Apichart Sakdiset said it was rare for a prime minister to demand so much compensation in a libel case. He noted that recent libel cases filed by government figures and agencies against media companies involved compensation of over Bt16 billion.
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