(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 2 September 2005, veteran Thai journalist Kavi Chongkittavorn testified that media reform activist Supinaya Klangnarong, sued for criminal libel by telecom giant Shin Corp, had the public interest in mind when she said that the company had intertwining interests with the government. Kavi, an assistant group editor of “The Nation” and SEAPA […]
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 2 September 2005, veteran Thai journalist Kavi Chongkittavorn testified that media reform activist Supinaya Klangnarong, sued for criminal libel by telecom giant Shin Corp, had the public interest in mind when she said that the company had intertwining interests with the government.
Kavi, an assistant group editor of “The Nation” and SEAPA chairman, told the court that Supinya had the constitutional right to express her opinion, especially since it was a way of promoting good governance of a public company.
“Without such freedom to do so, how would the company become transparent and accountable to the public,” Kavi told Bangkok’s Criminal Court. He reiterated that Supinya exercised her right to scrutinise the company in the public interest.
Shin Corp, owned by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s family, is seeking Bt400 million (approx. US$9.75 million) in damages from Supinya, who is secretary general of the Campaign for Popular Media Reform, and from “Thai Post” as a result of a 2003 article that quoted Supinya as saying Shin Corp’s profits surged after Thaksin, from the ruling Thai Rak Thai party, took the helm of the government.
Kavi admitted there are institutional checks-and-balances to promote good governance in government and in the corporate world, but the role of civil society as a watchdog is indispensable. “The two processes have to be integrated. The role of the civil society is even more important since it represents the broader interest of people in the society,” he said.
During the cross-examination by a Shin Corp lawyer, Kavi said the reputation of Shin Corp was not damaged because of Supinya’s comments but by the fact that it sued her and “Thai Post”.
“Shin Corp, as a leading telecom and media company that has an [influence] on the country’s knowledge-based society and free flow of information, is bound to be transparent and accountable to the public and the media,” he said.
Kavi said freedom of expression and good governance in Thailand is guaranteed under the 1997 Constitution and international treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
He said in the first four years of the Thaksin government, Thailand’s press freedom rating has dropped. He said that according to Freedom House’s annual press freedom survey for 2005, Thailand ranked 95 among 194 countries, compared to 88th in 2004 and 29th in 2000. The libel suit, Kavi said, contributed to the downgrade.
The court has heard testimonies from respected media practitioners, mass communication lecturers and human rights experts in Thailand and abroad.
The defence started presenting its witnesses in early August and will continue until October. In December, the court is due to rule on the case, which has focused international attention on the growing regional trend to use defamation to stifle the media and government critics.