Court throws out request to block Thanathorn s clip
published : 8 Feb 2021 at 17:35
28 Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit speaks during the broadcast on Facebook hie views on the government s vaccine plans on Jan 18. (Photo from Progressive Movement Facebook)
The Criminal Court has dismissed a petition by the Digital Economy and Society Ministry to remove a clip criticising the government’s Covid-19 vaccine policy by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.
On Jan 18, the former leader of the disbanded Future Forward Party broadcast a video criticising the policy live on Facebook, YouTube and the website of the Progressive Movement, which he now chairs.
Two days later, the ministry filed a complaint with the police’s Technology Crime Suppression Division, accusing Mr Thanathorn of royal defamation (Section 112) and breaching the computer crime law.
AFP
A government official has lodged a complaint accusing a banned opposition leader of committing royal defamation and a computer crime through online comments where he expressed concerns about national efforts to acquire coronavirus vaccines.
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the leader of the Future Forward Party and an icon of the Thai pro-democracy movement, was the target of the complaint by Newin Chorchaithip, the deputy minister for Digital Economy and Society, on Wednesday.
The complaint, filed with the police’s Technology Crime Suppression Division, accused Thanathorn of disseminating false criticisms of the government’s acquisition plan for COVID-19 vaccines. No charges had been filed as of Thursday, according to authorities.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he will order legal action against anyone who spreads false information regarding the government's Covid-19 vaccination plan.
Thailand steps up investigation of royal defamation cases
Rights groups condemn Thai government s use of draconian lese majeste law to silence dissenting voices
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Royal noble consort Sineenat Bilaskalayani greets royalist supporters outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok on Nov. 1, 2020. Criticism of the monarchy is punishable by long jail sentences in Thailand. (Photo: AFP)
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed several government agencies to expedite their investigation of suspected cases of royal defamation made by citizens in public or online and bring charges against the alleged culprits.
Prayut’s call comes after numerous members of a youth-led pro-democracy movement have already been charged with allegedly insulting the monarchy, which could land them in prison for decades if convicted.
Jatuporn takes legal action over lies
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published : 8 Jan 2021 at 06:22
8 Jatuporn Prompan receives flowers from his supporters after being released from Bangkok Remand Prison on Aug 4, 2020. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan on Thursday asked police to lay more than 200 criminal charges following social media attacks on him in the run-up to last month s local elections.
The chairman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) went to the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) and asked that the charges be filed against those who had either posted false information about him or shared it online.
The legal action stemmed from his open support for Boonlert Buranupakorn, a candidate in the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) election in Chiang Mai during the campaign for the poll.