Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2004 14:46:14 +0800 (PHT) From: "Alan G. Alegre" <alalegre@fma.ph> Subject: [communication 1150] [Fwd: Thailand: Supinya vs. Shin Corp.-- a libel case that raises concern for human rights, freedom of expression and media ownership] To: communication@wsisasia.org Message-Id: <15796.208.147.1.5.1088664374.squirrel@mail.fma.ph> X-Mail-Count: 01150---------------------------- Original Message ---------------------------- Subject: [Fwd: Thailand: Supinya vs. Shin Corp.-- a libel case that raises concern for human rights, freedom of expression and media ownership] From: ubonrat@isai.or.id Date: Tue, June 29, 2004 2:12 pm To: jinpeili@yahoo.com supinya40@yahoo.com alalegre@fma.ph -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Thailand: Supinya vs. Shin Corp.-- a libel case that raises concern for human rights, freedom of expression and media ownershipFrom: "David Lin" <DL@wacc.org.uk> Date: Sat, June 26, 2004 12:48 am To: <forum@arwacc.org> Dear AR-WACC Online Participants, More connection of connections, support of supports -- Asia Human Rights Commission (AHRC), based in Hong Kong, released the following appeal on its homepage on 21 June, 2004. Ms. Supinya Klangnarong is a former WACC scholar who studied in University of Westminster in 2001. Now she's sued by the Shin Corp. in Thailand for libel. It's a case that raises concern for human rights, freedom of expression, and for media conglomerate's domination in a country like Thailand. You may want to show support to Supinya by following the AHRC's appeal letter below. A picture of her can be found in the "Media Gallery" link of AR-WACC homepage www.arwacc.org. Regards. David Lin Online Moderator AHRC's appeal appears from here ::::> THAILAND: Human rights defender faces preliminary decision in libel case URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM 21 June 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- UA-73-2004: THAILAND: Human rights defender faces preliminary decision in libel case THAILAND: Freedom of speech; Democratization of media; Human rights defenders --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to draw attention to the fact that tomorrow, June 22, the preliminary decision will be given in a civil suit of extreme importance for all persons concerned with freedom of speech in Thailand. The case is a libel suit filed by Shin Corp, Thailand's biggest telecommunications and media company, which is owned by the family of the Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, against Ms Supinya Klangnarong, Secretary General of the Campaign for Popular Media Reform. The libel case was issued after Ms Supinya observed that Shin Corp's profits have skyrocketed since Mr Thaksin became Prime Minister. The case is deeply disturbing as Ms Supinya's remarks were made out of concern for public interest in issues of media ownership and freedom of speech in Thailand. If Shin Corp is given leave to proceed with the suit, it will legitimate the use of the judicial system in Thailand as a means to silence public dissent and further intimidate Thailand's civil sector, which has already been subjected to numerous threats and attacks in recent years. AHRC calls for you to send letters, make emails and phone calls to Shin Corp's Boonklee Plangsiri, Chairman of the Group Executive Committeem, asking Shin Corp to withdraw the case against Ms Supinya. You may also send letters of support to Ms Supinya directly. Urgent Appeals Desk Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) ----------------------------------------------------------- DETAILED INFORMATION: On 16 July 2003, the Thai Post newspaper published an article in which Ms Supinya Klangnarong, Secretary General of the Campaign for Popular Media Reform (CPMR), observed that the profits of Shin Corp had increased enormously since its founder, Mr Thaksin Shinawatra, had become Prime Minister of Thailand. In the article, Ms Supinya pointed out that since Mr Thaksin founded his Thai Rak Thai political party five years earlier, his company's profits had increased four times over, and were projected to increase many times still. She gave details-based upon sound research-of how Mr Thaksin had used the political system to manipulate business in favour of Shin Corp. She also noted that Shin Corp's business interests were all in public communications-mobile phones, satellite transmissions and television-and therefore matters over which there should be public debate as matters of national concern. Additionally, she pointed out that the profits from Shin Corp were being channelled back into the Thai Rak Thai company, effectively integrating Mr Thaksin's political and commercial interests into a single highly powerful enterprise. After the report was released, Shin Corp filed a libel suit for about ten million Thai Baht (US2,000). The case has been in preliminary hearings since 1 December 2003, and the court will decide on whether or not the case may proceed to the full court. If Shin Corp succeeds in taking the case to the next stage, it will have serious implications for Ms Supinya personally, and for efforts to democratize media in Thailand overall. For Ms Supinya, it will hamper her efforts to lead the campaign for desperately needed and long-overdue media reform in the country, as her time and resources will be spent fighting an arduous court battle. For others in the country concerned with freedom of speech and media reform it will legitimate methods used by the government and powerful commercial interests to pursue persons through the courts who have spoken against them out of concern for the public good and free expression. It should be noted that only Shin Corp has sued Ms Supinya. Neither the Prime Minister nor his Thai Rak Thai party has denied her allegations that a connection exists between Mr Thaksin's political and commercial enterprises. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The television and radio media in Thailand have been under a government and military monopoly since their introduction to the country. Although the new Constitution of Thailand introduced in 1997 set in place provisions for the democratization of these media, these provisions have not been realized. The only television station not controlled by the government or military is owned by Shin Corp. Radio stations have been started by local communities, but the government has threatened them with closure on the grounds they are "illegal". In fact it is the government itself that has failed to introduce a licensing regime in accordance with the new Constitution. There is what the CPMR has identified 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. Shin Corp in particular has totally dominated all sectors of the commercial media in Thailand, as it owns 24 companies running telecommunications, television, radio, internet, satellite and other communications throughout the country, and even into neighbouring Cambodia, Laos and Burma. The result is that outside a limited number of newspapers and low distribution journals, there remains virtually no independent media in Thailand, thereby greatly damaging the prospects for opening discussion on serious violations of human rights and other concerns currently faced by the people there. In particular, there are no avenues for the expression of popular concerns from the local level in Thailand, and as such the country continues to be dominated by an elite urban-centred discourse inimical to the furtherance of human rights in the country. Ms Supinya set up the CPMR to advocate media reform and counter these trends on the basis of provisions in the new Constitution intended to liberalise and democratize electronic media in Thailand. As the spokesperson and leading figure of this forerunning organization for media reform in Thailand she poses a threat to those who would see a government and big business monopoly For other reports on the case and background, see the following sites: ABC (Australia) News: http://www.abcnews.net.au/asiapacific/location/asia/GAPLocAsiaStories_10 06728.htm Asia Media: http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=5363 Committee to Protect Journalists: http://www.cpj.org/attacks03/asia03/thai.html CorpWatch: http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=9333 WACC: http://www.wacc.org.uk/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=1412 SUGGESTED ACTION: Please phone call or send a letter/fax/email to the Shin Corporation and demand them to drop the suit filed against Ms Supinya Klangnarong. AHRC suggests you to intervene into this case as quickly as possible as the preliminary decision about this case will be given in a civil suit on 22 June 2004 (tomorrow). Sample letter: 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: THAILAND: Shin Corp. Libel case against Ms Supinya Klangnarong As a person concerned with freedom of speech in Thailand, I 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 I 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. I want to bring to your attention that her case is not merely a personal matter but is related to the democratization of media in Thailand overall. In fact, her activity 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 these 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, I 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, and therefore I request you to take part in media reform and create a better environment for democracy. Yours sincerely ------------------------- PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO: Mr Boonklee Plangsiri Chairman of the Group Executive Committee Shin Corporation Plc. 414 Phaholyothin Road Samsennai, Phayathai, Bangkok 10400 Thailand Tel: (662) 299-5000 Fax: (662) 271-1058 E-mail: investor@shincorp.com PLEASE SEND COPIES TO: 1. Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra Prime Minister Government house, Pitsanulok Road, Dusit District, Bangkok 10300 THAILAND Fax: +66 2 282 8631 Email: thaksin@thaigov.go.th, govspkman@mozart.inet.co.th 2. Mrs. Sudarat Keyuraphan Deputy Leader Thai Rak Thai Party 237/2 Ratchawithi Road Suan Chitralada Dusit, Bangkok 10300 THAILAND Tel: (662) 668-2000 Fax: (662) 668-6000 Email: sudarat@sudarat.com, spokesman@thairakthai.or.th 3. Professor Saneh Chamarik Chairperson The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand 422 Phya Thai Road Pathurn Wan District Bangkok 10300 THAILAND Fax: 662 219 2940 Email: commission@nhrc.or.th 4. Ms. Hina Jilani UN Sepcial Represetative of the Secretaary-General on Human Rights Defenders C/o OHCHR-UNOG, 1211 Geneva 10, SWITZERLAND Fax: +41 22 917 9006 MESSAGES OF SUPPORT MAY ALSO BE SENT TO: Supinya Klangnarong Secretary General CPMR 409 Soi Ratchada 14 Huay Kwang Bangkok 10320 THAILAND Tel & Fax: +66 2 691 0437 to 0439 Email: cpmr40@hotmail.com Thank you. Urgent Appeals Programme Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Posted on 2004-06-21 Back to [2004 Urgent Appeal] http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2004/706 Asian Human Rights Commission1150_2.html (attatchment)(tag is disabled)