ID :
102468
Mon, 01/25/2010 - 17:55
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http://m.oananews.org//node/102468
The shortlink copeid
Court accepts PM's defamation suit against Arisman; first hearing set for April 7
BANGKOK, Jan 25 (TNA) - Thailand's Criminal Court on Monday accepted Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's defamation suit against Red Shirt anti-government leader Arisman Pongruangrong, who accused him of causing the illness of his Majesty the King and with ordering the killing of Red Shirt protesters during last year's mid-April chaos.
The premier earlier appeared at court after filing a complaint against Mr Arisman, a key leader of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) for speaking to the Red Shirt protesters rallying in Bangkok on October 11 and 17 last year that Mr Abhisit caused the king's illness and became premier by "robbing the people's power."
Mr Abhisit, as plaintiff, told the court that he is loyal to the monarch and always follows his royal advice, especially the king's speech on his birthday last year (December 5) that "His Majesty will be happy if the country is peaceful."
The premier said that the Red Shirts ignited chaos last April in the capital and at the seaside resort of Pattaya, while Mr Arisman himself led the protesters to disrupt the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
Mr Abhisit said he had instructed security personnel to control the situation under the rules of law and human rights until the demonstrators dispersed without casualty.
Regarding the audio clip in which Mr Arisman distributed accusing Mr Abhisit of ordering the killing of Red Shirts, Mr Abhisit said that experts had verified the clip and found that it was edited and distorted.
The premier also said that he is not delaying the UDD's petition seeking a royal pardon for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
He said the Corrections Department is now verifying the names of petitioners.
Mr Arisman, once a member of parliament, should know well about the royal pardon process, but still insisted submitting the petition, while academics, state officials and rectors of universities nationwide opposed such a move in which they said would put pressure against His Majesty the King.
Regarding the accusation that the premier robbed the people get his position, the plaintiff said the accusation is groundless as he took the post with majority vote in parliament.
"Mr Arisman's accusations are not made in good faith, but defames the plaintiff leading to anger and insult," Mr Abhisit said.
The court accepted to proceed with the defamation suit, with the first hearing set for April 7.
The Criminal Court last week accepted the premier's defamation suit against another Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan who accused him of ordering state security forces to kill Red Shirt protesters last April and delaying the group's petition seeking a royal pardon for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin.
The first hearing on Mr Jatuporn's case will be scheduled by July 8. (TNA)
The premier earlier appeared at court after filing a complaint against Mr Arisman, a key leader of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) for speaking to the Red Shirt protesters rallying in Bangkok on October 11 and 17 last year that Mr Abhisit caused the king's illness and became premier by "robbing the people's power."
Mr Abhisit, as plaintiff, told the court that he is loyal to the monarch and always follows his royal advice, especially the king's speech on his birthday last year (December 5) that "His Majesty will be happy if the country is peaceful."
The premier said that the Red Shirts ignited chaos last April in the capital and at the seaside resort of Pattaya, while Mr Arisman himself led the protesters to disrupt the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
Mr Abhisit said he had instructed security personnel to control the situation under the rules of law and human rights until the demonstrators dispersed without casualty.
Regarding the audio clip in which Mr Arisman distributed accusing Mr Abhisit of ordering the killing of Red Shirts, Mr Abhisit said that experts had verified the clip and found that it was edited and distorted.
The premier also said that he is not delaying the UDD's petition seeking a royal pardon for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
He said the Corrections Department is now verifying the names of petitioners.
Mr Arisman, once a member of parliament, should know well about the royal pardon process, but still insisted submitting the petition, while academics, state officials and rectors of universities nationwide opposed such a move in which they said would put pressure against His Majesty the King.
Regarding the accusation that the premier robbed the people get his position, the plaintiff said the accusation is groundless as he took the post with majority vote in parliament.
"Mr Arisman's accusations are not made in good faith, but defames the plaintiff leading to anger and insult," Mr Abhisit said.
The court accepted to proceed with the defamation suit, with the first hearing set for April 7.
The Criminal Court last week accepted the premier's defamation suit against another Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan who accused him of ordering state security forces to kill Red Shirt protesters last April and delaying the group's petition seeking a royal pardon for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin.
The first hearing on Mr Jatuporn's case will be scheduled by July 8. (TNA)
