The Pheu Thai Party on Wednesday filed a complaint with Lumpini police accusing Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and four other party members of defamation in accusing former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of being behind the men in black during the 2010 political riots.
The complaint was filed by Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit against Mr Abhisit, Surat Thani MP Suthep Thaugsuban, Democrat deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij, Rayong MP Sathit Pitutecha and Songkhla MP Sirichok Sopha.
Mr Prompong said he was authorised by Thaksin to file the complaint against the five who, in their speech at a Democrat Party rally at Lumpini Park on Oct 13, accused the former prime minister of "taking command of the men in black and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protests between April 14, 2009-May 19, 2010".
Thaksin was also accused of being responsible for the loss of lives during the April-May 2010 violence and using the people's lives as a political tool in trying to retake power, he said.
Their speeches were republished both in print and online media to discredit and sow hatred against Thaksin, who had nothing to do with the men in black, Mr Prompong said.
Mr Prompong said he had also filed a defamation complaint against Democrat MP and former foreign minister Kasit Piromya, for comments made on Aug 21 this year about Thaksin's trip to the United States.
In a press interview, Mr Kasit described Thaksin as "a bandit charged with corruption and instigating the burning of the (capital) city", which was defamatory to the former prime minister, he added.