Bangkok: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, who is currently serving as the acting prime minister, has announced that the decision to proceed with a defamation lawsuit against Mr. Thanaporn Sriyakul will rest with his legal team.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Phumtham emphasized that any potential apology from Mr. Thanaporn would also be a matter for his lawyers to decide.
Mr. Phumtham has authorized his lawyers to prepare a defamation case against Mr. Thanaporn, who is the director of the Institute of Political Analysis, on charges related to advertising. He stated that any further steps, including the acceptance of an apology, would be determined by the lawyers he appointed on August 20.
In response to questions about whether the lawsuit would target only Mr. Thanaporn or others as well, Mr. Phumtham clarified that any speech deemed irresponsible, damaging to someone’s honor or dignity, causing public confusion, or posing a threat to the country’s stability, would be met with legal action.
Addressing past instances of criticism that did not result in lawsuits, Mr. Phumtham asserted that this perception was incorrect. He mentioned that several lawsuits have been filed in cases where his or his family’s reputation has been harmed. He distinguished between honest criticism and that which is dishonest and based on falsehoods, stressing the importance of holding individuals accountable for false claims. Mr. Phumtham urged critics to consider whether it is acceptable to voice criticisms without evidence, and suggested that the focus should be on questioning those who make baseless claims, rather than those who are targeted by them.