Dear Supinya,
We, the Network Media Group, a Burmese exiled news service is with you in
your case.
In solidarity,
Network Media Group
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Alan G. Alegre [mailto:alalegre@fma.ph]
>Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 8:45 PM
>To: Myriam Horngren; communication@wsisasia.org
>Cc: crisinfo@comunica.org; alt.wsis@lists.riseup.net; NetAktibista Group;
>apc.council@lists.apc.org; Corinna SEACA
>Subject: [communication 1133] Re: SUPINYA > SEAPA statement
>
>
>Please find below the statement on Supinya's case from SEAPA
>=================================================
>
>SOUTHEAST ASIAN PRESS ALLIANCE
>538/1 Samsen Road, Dusit, Bangkok, 10300 Thailand
>Phone/Fax (662) 2435579, Email: seapa@seapabkk.org
>
>PRESS STATEMENT - THAILAND
>23 June 2004
>Thai Criminal Court Decision to Accept Libel Suit Alarming
>Source: Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), Bangkok
>
>The following is a 22 June 2004 statement by SEAPA:
>
>The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is alarmed by the decision of a
>criminal court in Thailand to accept a libel suit filed by a Thai
>telecommunications conglomerate owned by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's
>family against media reform campaigner Supinya Klangnarong, a local
>newspaper and three of its editors for a story alleging that the company was
>benefitting under Thaksin's tenure.
>
>The court ruled on 22 June 2004 that Supinya, the secretary-general of the
>Campaign for Popular Media Reform and the four other defendants from the
>local-language Thai Post "could be found guilty under the Criminal Code for
>conspiring to publish a libelous statement against Shin Corp". The court set
>6 September 2004 as the start of the trial in Bangkok.
>
>The court's decision marks the beginning of what could be a landmark case to
>test the justice system's impartiality and gauge civil society's resolve in
>keeping government and its business cronies in check.
>It would also test the government's adherence to constitutional guarantees
>on the public's right to free expression and information.
>
>Shin Corp's libel suit stemmed from a story quoting Supinya, who said that
>based on facts that she had gathered, it appeared that the corporation was a
>major beneficiary of Thaksin's policies, judging by the sharp rise in its
>profits since he became prime minister in February 2001. The story was
>published by the Thai Post on 16 July 2003. The court started hearing the
>complaint on 01 December 2003.
>
>SEAPA is concerned that the court decision allowing the libel suit to
>proceed could undermine the right of journalists and civil society to
>scrutinise and question government policies or decisions which are inimical
>to the public's interests and set a precedent for future cases which the
>government could use to intimidate and silence its critics.
>
>"I am not totally surprised by the court's decision, although I feel a
>little bit upset about it," Supinya told SEAPA.
>
>Supinya insists she has the right to express herself, adding her statement
>was based on facts and a long-time research on an emerging pattern of media
>ownership by big business groups in Thailand. "If I shied away from speaking
>up, who would dare speak up when our data is clear enough to take a company
>with a conflict of interests with politics to task," she said.
>
>Founded in 1983, Shin Corp controls iTV television station, owns the country
>'s biggest mobile phone company and Internet provider and holds a monopoly
>on the satellite communications business.
>According to the company's financial statement, its income rose to the
>equivalent of 3.0 billion U.S. dollars in 2002 from 2.02 billion dollars in
>2001.
>
>(This statement was sent to Shin Corp in Bangkok on June 23, 2004))
>
>We call on IFEX members to send protest letters to the following address:
>
>Boonklee Plangsiri
>Chief Executive Officer
>Shin Corporation Public Company Limited
>414 Phaholyothin Rd
>Phayathai, Bangkok
>Thailand
>Tel: 66-2-2995555
>Fax: 66-2-2995039
>
>Thank You
>SEAPA Alert Coordination
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Myriam Horngren <mh@wacc.org.uk>
>To: Alan G. Alegre <alalegre@fma.ph>; <communication@wsisasia.org>
>Cc: <crisinfo@comunica.org>; <alt.wsis@lists.riseup.net>; NetAktibista Group
><netaktibista@yahoogroups.com>; asia-ir <asia-ir@list.jinbo.net>;
><apc.council@lists.apc.org>; Corinna SEACA <clopa@seaca.net>
>Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 7:09 PM
>Subject: SUPINYA KLANGNARON vs the SHIN Corportation
>
>
>Dennis Smith is President of the WACC Latin American Region. The
>following is a letter from Dennis sent out to the Shin Corporation in
>relation to Supinya Klangnarong case on behalf of the WACC Latin
>American Region. For further information on the case, please check the
>attached rtf document.
>
>
>
>22 June 2004
>
>Mr. Boonklee Plangsiri
>Chairman of the Group Executive Committee
>Shin Corporation Plc.
>414 Phaholyothin Road
>Samsennai, Phayathai
>Bangkok 10400
>Thailand
>
>Dear Mr. Boonklee Plangsiri,
>
>Re: Shin Corp. Libel case against Ms Supinya Klangnarong
>
>As an association concerned with freedom of speech in Thailand and the
>whole world, we strongly urge the Shin Corporation to drop the suit
>filed against Ms Supinya Klangnarong, Secretary General of the Campaign
>for Popular Media Reform (CPMR).
>
>According to the information we have received, the preliminary decision
>will be given in a civil suit filed by your Shin Corp against Ms Supinya
>Klangnarong on 22 June 2004. The libel case was filed after Ms Supinya
>observed that Shin Corp's profits have skyrocketed since Mr Thaksin
>Shinawatra became Prime Minister.
>
>Latin America's hesitant but persistent steps toward democracy and
>steady economic growth have been closely related to the growth of a
>strong, inquisitive and independent media. In the case at hand, Ms.
>Supinya's support for long-overdue media reform is linked to the
>realization of the new Constitution of Thailand introduced in 1997,
>which set in place provisions for the democratization of the media.
>However, until now the only television station not controlled by the
>government or military is owned by Shin Corp. Similarly, radio stations
>that have been started by local communities have been threatened by the
>government with closure on the grounds that they are "illegal". Under
>these circumstances, Ms Supinya has identified Shin Corp as a new media
>monopoly emerging between the commercial and government sectors, as
>media concessions are issued to Shin Corp and other businesses close to
>senior politicians, thereby defeating the purpose of the constitutional
>reforms.
>
>Media reform on the basis of provisions in the new Constitution is
>essential for opening discussion on serious violations of human rights
>and other concerns currently faced by the people in Thailand. If the
>case will be taken to the next stage, this will have serious
>implications not only for Ms Supinya personally, but for all efforts to
>democratize media in Thailand.
>
>Therefore, the more than 150 communications institutions and
>communications professionals that make up the Latin America Region of
>the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) strongly urge
>the Shin Corp. to drop the suit against Ms Supinya immediately. As a
>media corporation you have a social responsibility to uphold freedom of
>speech; therefore we request that you take part in media reform and
>create a better environment for democracy.
>
>
>
>Yours sincerely
>
>
>Dennis A. Smith, President
>WACC-AL
>
>
>
>Myriam Horngren
>CRIS Network and Campaign Coordinator
>c/o WACC
>357 Kennington Lane
>London SE11 5QY
>United Kingdom
>Tel: 44 (0) 207 582 9139
>Fax: 44 (0) 207 735 0340
>web: www.crisinfo.org
>email: mh@wacc.org.uk