02 April 2006

Kom Chad Luek


Kom Chad Luek

Korkhet Chantalertluk, editor of Kom Chad Luek (คมชัดลึก) has resigned after his newspaper published a misleading story about Sondhi Limthongkul, the leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy. The article, published on 24th March (p. 18) included extracts from an interview with Sondhi, and ended with the following quote about Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra: “ถ้าไม่ยอมลาออก ต้องบอกประชาชนทั้งประเทศว่าให้ในหลวงลาออก” (‘if he refuses to quit, he has to tell the whole country that the King should resign’).

Sondhi complained that his quote had been edited, and that it was highly misleading to suggest that he had called for the King to abdicate. (He issued a press release with a transcript of the interview, to prove his point.) The newspaper printed a front-page apology on 29th March, the editor tendered his resignation, and publication was voluntarily suspended for five days. The article led to both Sondhi and Korkhet being charged with lèse-majesté, though the charges were ultimately withdrawn.

0 comment(s):

Post a Comment