2 replies to this topic

[B.I.G.]

"Lawyer for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra filed a case with police accusing Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban of defaming Mr Thaksin by saying he would like to return as the "President of Thailand." Lawyer Wichit Plangsrisakul filed the defamation lawsuit with police at Dusit station accusing Mr Suthep of slandering the ousted premier in a statement he gave on Tuesday.

The lawyer said the statement damaged Mr Thaksin's reputation and the ousted premier would like to prove his innocence and loyalty to the monarchy. Mr Wichit also brought newspaper clips and VCDs concerning the matter as evidence. He said he will also file a civil lawsuit against Mr Suthep next week.
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Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Thursday admitted that he accused ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra of wanting to become "the president of Thailand," but said his comment was made to protect the government. At the house meeting, Puea Thai party MP Chavarin Latthasaksiri questioned Mr Suthep about his remark on Mr Thaksin.

The deputy premier then responded that he sincerely believed Mr Thaksin would want to return as Thailand's president, judging by his actions inside the country and overseas. He said one of the cases was when the ex-prime minister presided over a religious ceremony at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in 2005 and he was accused of usurping the royal rights.

Mr Suthep said he had to protect the benefits of the government and the Democrat party by refuting Mr Thaksin after he accused the government as a starving tiger."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/13...to-protect-govt

[Harold]

These Thai politicians remind me of school children arguing in the playground about whose Dad is bigger, except they use the image of the "Father" living in the palace in Bangkok instead. It's adolescent behavior no matter how you look at it and this whole country seems perfectly capable of acting that way in unison. It's time for the Thais to grow and act like adults.

[Gene]

The transcript of the Thaksin phone call clearly shows that Thaksin said he wants to come back to be Prime Minister again. The world President is never mentioned.

By accusing Thaksin of wanting to replace the King to become Head of State, it seems to me that Suthep has clearly slandered Thaksin by effectively accusing him of sedition or treason. Conviction for criminal defamation would require Suthep to resign his post.