Two senior government officials have filed charges accusing veteran politician Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of defamation and instigating unrest over her Thai Sang Thai Party's campaign to sue "the murderous government" for mismanagement of the Covid-19 crisis.
Seksakol Atthawong, assistant minister at the Prime Minister's Office, and Sonthiya Sawasdee, adviser to the House committee on law, justice and human rights, yesterday filed a complaint with the police against Khunying Sudarat for defamation.
Mr Seksakol said Khunying Sudarat's Thai Sang Thai Party launched a campaign accusing the government of mismanagement of the Covid-19 crisis. He said the campaign had damaged the government's reputation and caused social disharmony.
In his capacity as a damaged party, he wanted to sue Khunying Sudarat. "Thai Sang Thai is playing political games, distorting information to discredit the government. The Covid-19 crisis is occurring worldwide, not only in Thailand," he said.
"It is similar to the case in which Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and leader of the Thai Mai Thon (Thais Won't Stand It) group, accused former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of being a murderer.
"The case ended up with Mr Jatuporn being sent to jail," said Mr Seksakol.