A friend and colleague, Supinya Klangnarong, is
scheduled to go on trial for libel, following a suit
filed by the company owned by the family of the Thai
Prime Minister...
We call on advocates of communication rights and freedom
of expression to sign on to this online petition...
Al Alegre
Foundation for Media Alternatives
(apologies if you receive this more than once...please
forward to interested parties)
*****ONLINE PETITION CALLS ON SHIN CORP TO DROP LIBEL
SUIT*******
In July 2003 Supinya Klangnarong, Secretary General of
the Campaign for Popular Media Reform in Thailand had
noted, in an interview published in the Thai Post, that
Shin Corporation profits had soared since Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra had come to power and had questioned
the relationships between politics and commercial
interests. Shin Corp was founded by the Prime Minister
and is now owned by his family.
Supinya paid dearly for her comments as in late 2003,
SHIN CORP filed a criminal libel suit against Ms Supinya
Klangnarong, Secretary General of the Campaign for
Popular Media Reform, followed by a civil suit seeking
compensation for loss of earnings of approximately $10
million. The trial has a start date of 19th July 2005.
This petition is already supported by Noam Chomsky,
Ariel Dorfman, Bob McChesney and Bernard Cassen. Follow
suit by signing up to WACC's call for SHIN to drop the
case. The online petition is available on:
www.wacc.org.uk/supinya .
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Notes for editors:
For more information on Supinya's case, including a full
chronology of the case and dates for the court
proceedings, go to:
www.wacc.org.uk/supinya
Contact info:
Myriam Horngren,
Advocacy and Network Coordinator
mh@wacc.org.uk Office
44 (0) 207 582 9139
Mobile 44 7962 06 26 98
Hi-res photographs are available from Sean Hawkey,
Communication Officer
sh@wacc.org.uk
Office 44 (0) 207 582 9139
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Taking the side of justice and human dignity in media,
and promoting diverse media ownership, WACC works for
the right to communicate especially in situations of
censorship and oppression.
If you found this mailing useful please FORWARD THIS
MESSAGE to a friend or colleague.
Myriam Horngren
WACC/CRIS Network and Advocacy Coordinator
357 Kennington Lane London SE11 5QY United Kingdom
Direct line: 44 (0) 207 587 3018
Fax: 44 (0) 207 735 0340
web: www.crisinfo.org/www.wacc.org.uk
email: mh@wacc.org.uk