(UA-73-2004: THAILAND: Human rights defender faces preliminary decision in libel case on 21 June 2004 and UP-31 2004: THAILAND: Criminal Court decides to let libel suit against Ms Supinya Klangnarong proceed on 29 June 2004; UP-62-2004: THAILAND: Update on libel suit against media-reform activist Ms Supinya; UP-31-2005: THAILAND: Media reform campaigner Supinya holds fund-raising event to fight criminal libel case)
Dear friends,
The trial of media reform campaigner Ms Supinya Klangnarong and the Thai Post newspaper for criminal defamation is underway in the Bangkok Criminal Court. As the Asian Human Rights Commission has informed earlier, Supinya and the newspaper are being sued by communications giant Shin Corp because of comments made in the public interest in 2003. Shin Corp is the family company of the Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr Thaksin Shinawatra.
The AHRC urges all persons concerned with freedom of expression in Thailand and its implications for the enjoyment of all other human rights in the country to attend the trial as observers. The final rounds of witnesses testifying for the defence will be from September 27 to 30, October 11 and 12 and October 25 and 26. Full details as announced by the Campaign for Popular Media Reform (Thailand) are given below.
LOCATION
Room 802, Criminal Court, Ratchadapisek Road, Ladprao
SCHEDULE (Morning sessions begin at 9am; Afternoon sessions begin at 1:30pm)
27 September (am): Dr.Nirun Pitakwatchara, Senator
28 September (am): Dr.Chermsak Pintong, Senator
29 September (am): Prof.Dr.Pasuk Pongpaijit, Faculty of Economic, Chulalongkorn University
29 September (pm): Ms.Rosan Tositrakul, Anti-corruption organisation
30 September (am): Jiraporm Wittayasakpan, Faculty of Mass Communication, Chiang Mai University
11 -12 October: Supinya Klangnarong, Campaign for Popular Media Reform (1st defendant)
25 – 26 October: Witnesses for the Thai Post newspaper
FOR MORE DETAILS
Contact CPMR by phone: (66)-2-6910437 to 9; (66)-2-6910574; or (66)-6-7360969
Or email: freemediafreepeople@yahoo.com
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
See: UA-73-2004, UP-31-2004, UP-62-2004 & UP-31-2005
RECENT NEWS REPORTS ON CASE (All from The Nation daily newspaper)
Journalist group supports Supinya (September 3)
Case ‘is a test for freedom of speech’ (September 1)
Supinya’s claims fair, not damaging: TDRI’s Somkiat (August 31)
Setback for Supinya as interpreters rejected (August 20)
Foreign witnesses delayed (August 19)
Lawyer for Shin denies conflicts in Supinya case (August 17)
Supinya fight wins global backing (August 15)
Witness assails media manipulation (August 5)
Supinya trial: Day one (July 20)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
