(WAN/IFEX) – In a 10 August 2002 letter to Prime Minister Thaksin Chinnawat, WAN and the World Editors Forum expressed their serious concern at the imprisonment of journalist Chaisiri Samuddhavanij for defamation. According to reports, on 8 August, Chaisiri, a columnist at the “Manager Daily” newspaper, was sentenced to three months in jail after losing […]
(WAN/IFEX) – In a 10 August 2002 letter to Prime Minister Thaksin Chinnawat, WAN and the World Editors Forum expressed their serious concern at the imprisonment of journalist Chaisiri Samuddhavanij for defamation.
According to reports, on 8 August, Chaisiri, a columnist at the “Manager Daily” newspaper, was sentenced to three months in jail after losing a defamation case filed by former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan. The newspaper must also run a correction and apology in five newspapers for seven days. Chaisiri will reportedly be free on bail until his appeal has been heard.
Surin filed libel charges against Chaisiri over a January 2000 article which alleged that the former foreign minister was involved in attacks by Myanmar dissident groups on the Myanmar embassy in October 1999 and a provincial hospital in January 2000.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the prime minister:
– reminding him that criminal law is a wholly inappropriate means of dealing with the issue of defamation, and that such practice contravenes a number of international agreements
– noting that a civil award of reasonable damages is adequate and appropriate relief in all proven cases of defamation
– recalling that the United Nations Commission on Human Rights considers that “detention, as punishment for the peaceful expression of an opinion is one of the most reprehensible ways to enjoin silence and, as a consequence, a grave violation of human rights”
– calling on him to do everything possible to ensure that the criminal prosecution of Chaisiri is halted
– urging him to do everything possible to ensure that criminal defamation is removed from the statute books and replaced by a civil course of action
Appeals To
The Right Honourable Thaksin Chinnawat
Prime Minister
Bangkok, Thailand
c/o Permanent Representative to UN
E-mail: thailand@un.intPlease copy appeals to WAN.
