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<TITLE>Thailand: Supinya vs. Shin Corp.-- a libel case that raises concern for human rights, freedom of expression and media ownership</TITLE>
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<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Dear AR-WACC Online Participants,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">More connection of connections, support of supports -- Asia Human Rights Commission</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> (AHRC)</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">, based in Hong Kong,</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">released the following appeal on its homepage</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">on 21 June, 2004</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Ms. Supinya</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Klangnarong</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> is a former WACC scholar who studied in Un!
iversity of Westminster in 2001.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Now she</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">s sued by the Shin Corp.</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">in Thailand for libel.</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">It</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">s a case that raises concern for human</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">rights</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">, freedom of</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">expression</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FO!
NT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"!
></SPAN>
<SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> and for media conglomerate</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">s domination</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">in a country like Thailand.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">You</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">may want to show support to Supinya by following the AHRC</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">s appeal letter below.</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> </FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">A picture of her</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">can be found</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">in</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> the</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> <FONT SIZE=2 FAC!
E="Courier New">“</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Media Gallery</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">”</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> link</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> of AR</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">-</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">WACC homepage</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN><A HREF="http://www.arwacc.org"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">www.arwacc.org</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Regards.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">David Lin</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Online Moderator</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">AHRC's appeal appears from here ::::></FONT></SPAN></P>
<BR>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">THAILAND: Human rights defender faces preliminary decision in libel case </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">21 June 2004</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">--------------------------------------------------------------------- </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">UA-73-2004: THAILAND: Human rights defende</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">r faces preliminary decision in libel case</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">THAILAND: Freedom of speech; Democratization of media; Human rights defenders</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">--------------------------------------------------------------------- </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Dear friends,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> 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 bigge</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">s</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">t 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</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">t</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">hat Shin Corp's profits have skyrocketed since Mr Thaksin became Prime Minister. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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 Co</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">rp 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</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">in recent years. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> to Ms Supinya directly. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Urgent Appeals Desk</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">-----------------------------------------------------------</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">DETAILED INFORMATION:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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 increa</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">s</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">e many times still. She gave details</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">—</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">based upon sound research</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">—</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">of how Mr Thaksin had use!
d 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</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">—</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">mobile phone</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">s</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">, satellite transmissions and television</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">—</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">,</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> effectively integrating Mr Thaksin's political and commercial interests into a single highly powerful enterprise. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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 hea</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">rings 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 de</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">m</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">ocratize 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 i</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">n</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> the country concerned with freedom of speech and media reform it will legitim!
ate 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 fre</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">e</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> expression. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<BR>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">ADDITIONAL I</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">NFORMATION:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> 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 cl</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">o</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">sure 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 commerc</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">i</F!
ONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">al 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 commerc</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">i</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">al 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 num</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">b</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">er 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</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Cou!
rier New">t</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">here. In par!
ticular,
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 cou</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">n</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">try. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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 forer</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">unning organization for media reform in Thailand she poses a threat to those who would see a government and big business monopoly </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">For other reports on the case and background, see the following sites:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="es"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">ABC (Australia) News:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN><A HREF="http://www.abcnews.net.au/asiapacific/location/asia/GAPLocAsiaStories_1006728.htm"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U></SPAN><U><SPAN LANG="es"></SPAN></U><U><SPAN LANG="es"><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">http://www.abcnews.net.au/asiapacific/location/asia/GAPLocAsiaStories_1006728.htm</FONT></SPAN></U><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="es"></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="es"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Asia Media:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN><A HREF="http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=5363"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U></SPAN><U><SPAN LANG="es"></SPAN></U><U><SPAN LANG="es"><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/ar</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">ticle.asp?parentid=5363</FONT></SPAN></U><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="es"></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Committee to Protect Journalists:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN><A HREF="http://www.cpj.org/attacks03/asia03/thai.html"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">http://www.cpj.org/attacks03/asia03/thai.html</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">CorpWatch:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN><A HREF="http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=9333"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">http://www.corpwatch.org</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">/article.php?id=9333</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="de"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">WACC:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN><A HREF="http://www.wacc.org.uk/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=1412"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U></SPAN><U><SPAN LANG="de"></SPAN></U><U><SPAN LANG="de"><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">http://www.wacc.org.uk/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=1412</FONT></SPAN></U><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="de"></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">SUGGESTED ACTION:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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 wi</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">l</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">l be given in a civil suit on 22 June 2004 (tomorrow). </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Sample letter: </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Mr. Boonklee Plangsiri</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Chairman of the Group Executive Committee </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Shin Corporation Plc.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">414 Phaholyothin Road</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Samsennai, Phayathai </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Bangkok 10400 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Thailand</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Dear Mr. Boonklee Plangsiri,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Re: THAILAND: Shin Corp. Libel case against Ms Supinya Klangnarong </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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, Secreta</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">ry General of the Campaign for Popular Media Reform (CPMR).</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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 fil</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">ed after Ms Supinya observed that Shin Corp's profits have skyrocketed since Mr Thaksin Shinawatra became Prime Minister. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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 Th</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">ailand 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 tele</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">v</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">ision 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</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">of the constitutional reforms. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">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 tak</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">en to the next stage, this will have serious implications not only for Ms Supinya personally, but for all efforts to democratize media in Thailand. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Therefore, I strongly urge the Shin Corp. to drop the suit against Ms Supinya immediately. As a media corp</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">oration 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. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Yours sincerely</FONT></SPAN></P>
<BR>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">-------------------------</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Mr Boonklee Plangsiri</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Chairman of the Group Executive Committee </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Shin Corporation Plc.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">414 Phaholyothin Road</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Samsennai, Phayathai, </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Bangkok 10400 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Thailand</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Tel: (662) 299-5000 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Fax: (662) 271-1058</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">E-mail:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN><A HREF="mailto:investor@shincorp.com"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U><U><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">investor</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">@shincorp.com</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">PLEASE SEND COPIES TO:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">1. Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Prime Minister </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Government house, </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Pitsanulok Road, Dusit District, </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Bangkok 10300 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">THAILAND </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Fax: +66 2 282 8631 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Email:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN><A HREF="mailto:thaksin@thaigov.go.th"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U><U><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">thaksin@thaigov.go.th</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN><A HREF="mailto:govspkman@mozart.inet.co.th"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U><U><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">govspkman@mozart.inet.co.th</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">2. Mrs. Sudarat Keyuraphan</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Deputy Leader</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Thai Rak Thai Party</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">237/2 Ratchawithi Road</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Suan Chitralada</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Dusit, Bangkok 10300</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">THAILAND</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Tel: (662) 668-2000 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Fax: (662) 668-6000</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Email:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN><A HREF="mailto:sudarat@sudarat.com"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U><U><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">sudarat@sudarat.com</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN><A HREF="mailto:spokesman@thairakthai.or.th"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U><U><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">spokesman@thairakthai.or.th</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">3. Professor Saneh Chamarik</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Chairperson </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">422 Phya Thai Ro</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">ad</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Pathurn Wan District</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Bangkok 10300</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">THAILAND</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Fax: 662 219 2940</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Email:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN><A HREF="mailto:commission@nhrc.or.th"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U><U><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">commission@nhrc.or.th</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">4. Ms. Hina Jilani</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">UN Sepcial Represetative of the Secretaary-General on Human Rights Defenders</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="es"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">C/o OHCHR-UNOG, 1211</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> Geneva 10,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">SWITZERLAND</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Fax: +41 22 917 9006</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">MESSAGES OF SUPPORT MAY ALSO BE SENT TO:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Supinya Klangnarong</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Secretary General</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">CPMR</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">409 Soi Ratchada 14</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Huay Kwang</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Bangkok 10320</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">THAILAND</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Tel & Fax: +66 2 691 0437 to 0439</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Email:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"> </SPAN><A HREF="mailto:cpmr40@hotmail.com"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U><U><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">cpmr40@hotmail.com</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<BR>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Thank you.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Urgent Appeals Programme </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) </FONT></SPAN></P>
<BR>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Posted on 2004-06-21</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Back to [2004 Urgent Appeal] </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><A HREF="http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2004/706"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U></U><U><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">http:/</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">/www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2004/706</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Asian Human Rights Commission</FONT></SPAN></P>
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