Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra filed a libel lawsuit today against his former ally Sondhi Limthongkul, owner of the Manager Daily (ผู้จัดการรายวัน) newspaper, seeking ฿500 million in damages. Manager published the full text of a sermon delivered by Luang Ta Maha Bua, a monk who was highly critical of Thaksin.
Speaking on the morning of 27th September from his temple in Udon Thani, the monk accused Thaksin of attempting to userp power from the monarchy. His sermon was published on Manager’s website that evening. Thaksin’s lawyer, Thana Benjathikul, explained that the monk himself would not be sued, as this would cause public disapproval: “If he were not a monk, we would have taken legal action against him”.
Thaksin is also suing Sondhi, again for ฿500 million, in relation to the TV talk show เมืองไทยรายสัปดาห์ (‘Thailand weekly’). In the episode broadcast on 9th September, Sondhi read out a parable about a ‘lost lamb’ (ลูกแกะหลงทาง), which appeared to imply that Thaksin was disloyal to the monarchy. After the episode aired, the show was cancelled by CHannel 9, though Sondhi has since taken it on the road, attracting large audiences at Lumpini Park.
Speaking on the morning of 27th September from his temple in Udon Thani, the monk accused Thaksin of attempting to userp power from the monarchy. His sermon was published on Manager’s website that evening. Thaksin’s lawyer, Thana Benjathikul, explained that the monk himself would not be sued, as this would cause public disapproval: “If he were not a monk, we would have taken legal action against him”.
Thaksin is also suing Sondhi, again for ฿500 million, in relation to the TV talk show เมืองไทยรายสัปดาห์ (‘Thailand weekly’). In the episode broadcast on 9th September, Sondhi read out a parable about a ‘lost lamb’ (ลูกแกะหลงทาง), which appeared to imply that Thaksin was disloyal to the monarchy. After the episode aired, the show was cancelled by CHannel 9, though Sondhi has since taken it on the road, attracting large audiences at Lumpini Park.
