Chavanond defies Thaksin threat

Published: 29/01/2012 at 09:12 PM
Online news:

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut on Sunday downplayed a libel lawsuit threat against him by ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and challenged him to appear in Thai court and sue him.

Mr Chavanond was speaking after Thaksin’s legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said on Friday the former premier wanted to take legal action against Mr Chavanond for accusing him of defaming the monarchy.Mr Chavanond accused Thaksin of “an inappropriate act” in giving an interview that defamed the royal institution in a book entitled ‘’Conversations with Thaksin: From Exile to Deliverance: Thailand 's Populist Tycoon Tells His Story", Mr Noppadon said.The book was written by Los Angeles Times columnist Tom Plate and launched last year.According to Mr Chavanond, Mr Plate asked Thaksin whether he thought the King would grant an audience to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon if he asked to discuss with him the political unrest and lack of unity within Thailand.Thaksin had replied that, considering Mr Ban’s position, he thought the King may probably grant him an audience, according to Mr Chavanond, Mr Noppadon said.The Democrat spokesman said his allegation was based on facts obtained from a news report presented by T-News, a local news agency, which translated the alleged conversation into Thai.He insisted the...

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gleentea
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Discussion 8 : 30/01/2012 at 11:38 AM8
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johninbkk,

It's fairly obvious; TS believes everything he says is the truth, no matter what. He would have no reason to censor himself. If anyone disagrees he will resort to threatening/filing a lawsuit to suppress.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 7 : 30/01/2012 at 11:24 AM7
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In any other country in the world, what Thaksin said in the interview wouldn't even warrant a news story, and what Chavanond accused him of wouldn't even be accepted by the courts as a case for defamation. childish on both sides.
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davidh
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Discussion 6 : 30/01/2012 at 09:53 AM6
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The problem for Thaksin is that he is not really a Politician by nature, but rather a businessman and is easily led into a trap as this report clearly shows. He is a Man - not unlike his Deputy Prime Minister - who produces instant answers to questions without carefull consideration.

Unfortunately, in Thailand at the moment, every sentence tends to be met paranoia, often undeserved.

Mr. Thaksin's Lawyer or Press Secretary would be able to respond on his behalf with greater clarity and perhaps without the storm of controversy he so often provokes.
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android
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Discussion 5 : 30/01/2012 at 08:39 AM5
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"The Democrat spokesman said his allegation was based on facts obtained from a news report presented by T-News, a local news agency, which translated the alleged conversation into Thai."

Johninbkk has brought out the legal point. DM MP Chavanond's accusation against Thaksin is based on a translated article. The article is basically a piece of "hearsay" evidence translated by a third party that can never be accepted as evidence in court. A children playground episode!
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johninbkk
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Discussion 4 : 29/01/2012 at 11:18 PM4
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Mr Chavanond didn't bother listing a page number? BangkokPost didn't spend $10 to check the book? An interesting quote from the book, "Months ago [TS] had agreed to a full week of conversations, without any right to review the manuscript." Doesn't sound like something a censoring dictator would do . . .
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suthichai
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Discussion 3 : 29/01/2012 at 09:46 PM3
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d1: and do not forget the puea thaksin redshirt terrorist leaders hiding behind their mp status.
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canuck
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Discussion 2 : 29/01/2012 at 09:36 PM2
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This guy isn't smart enough to know you can have lawers lay the charge. Or somebody else fot that matter. However he lies constantly. He makes this stuff up because he wants to poison the minds of Thai citizens. It should not be hard to find a conviction with a man who believes his own lies because he will be foolish enough to repeat them.
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med142
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Discussion 1 : 29/01/2012 at 08:27 PM1
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Well, yes if one is bringing a law suit then one should also appear in court. He would have been free by now if he had served his sentence, it may have even been reduced due to good behaviour.
He could fight about the wrongs and rights of the case after he had served his sentence.
But also do not forget the dem mp who is hiding behind his status of an mp.
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Chavanond defies Thaksin threat | Bangkok Post: breakingnews