Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has sued Thai Rath cartoonist Somchai Katayutanan for defaming her in comments he posted on Facebook.
Female MPs of the Pheu Thai Party join in condemning Somchai Katayutanan for his attack on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. (Photo by Post Today)
The prime minister had consulted Phichit Chuenban, a Pheu Thai MP and party lawyer, and instructed him and other lawyers to take action against Mr Somchai, better known as Chai Ratchawat, said Lt Sunisa Letpakawat, a deputy government spokeswoman.
The lawyers filed the case on Friday with police at the Dusit station.
Mr Somchai posted a comment on his Facebook page on Tuesday reading: "Prostitutes are not evil. They just sell their bodies. But an evil woman sells the nation."
The message ran along with a picture of Ms Yingluck taken with the president of Mongolia, where the premier had delivered a speech at a forum on democracy on Monday.
In the strongly worded speech, she criticised the military coup that deposed her "rightfully elected" brother Thaksin in 2006, attempts by Pheu Thai opponents who are trying to "derail" democracy, and snipers killing red-shirt protesters in the rallies in 2010.
Critics have said the speech amounted to an attempt by the premier to whitewash her brother, adding that it did not tell the truth to the international community.
Mr Somchai's message angered female MPs of the ruling party. They sharply condemned the cartoonist, saying his comment was unacceptable, rude and disgusting.
They lashed out at him, saying he was looking down on women and violating women's rights, and demanded the cartoonist apologise to the prime minister.
Sunee Luengwichit, a Pheu Thai MP who was one of the protest leaders, said the comment showed no respect for the prime minister and was unethical on the part of Mr Somchai.
Thai Rath, the country's largest-circulation daily, said in its Friday edition that it understood how painful it would be for any woman to have such remarks directed at her.
However, since everyone has freedom of expression, he or she should be responsible for any opinions expressed publicly, said the newspaper, adding that the same rule applied to Mr Somchai.
If his opinions had been published in the newspaper, it would definitely have taken responsibility for the published messages, it said.
But in this case, the newspaper had to respect his right of privacy, it added.