PHUKET: Two Phuket journalists were today provided with a possible court date in a case in which a captain is suing for criminal defamation and applying the controversial Computer Crimes Act on behalf of the Royal Thai Navy.
Phuketwan editor Alan Morison and reporter Chutima Sidasathian were required to attend the office of the Phuket Prosecutor today to learn the date of their next appearance: March 10.
The pair had been led to believe they would appear in court today but instead, they were asked to meet a policeman, who delivered case papers to the prosecutor's office in Phuket City.
According to a document presented to the journalists today, Morison and Khun Chutima are required to next appear on March 10 at the prosecutor's office to hear whether the case against them is to proceed.
If the case goes ahead, the pair may have to go immediately to Phuket Provincial Court. Bail may be requested, the document says.
The journalists have already said that they will go to jail rather than post bail.
Their protest would be aimed at what's seen by them and rights groups as an attack on media freedom. It is believed to be the first time the military has sued the media in Thailand.
The suit revolves around a single paragraph from a Reuters news agency special report on the Rohingya boatpeople, first published online on July 17 last year.
Phuketwan republished online excerpts from the Reuters report later that day, reproducing the key paragraph word for word.
''Royal Thai Navy'' did not appear in the paragraph or in the headlines in Phuketwan or above the original Reuters article. The officer who initiated the suit, Captain Panlob Komtonlok, was also not mentioned.
While the action against the Phuketwan journalists (No. 489/2556) is proceeding, a similar complaint intended for the two Reuters journalists credited with writing the paragraph (No. 490/2556) appears to have been delayed indefinitely by the Bangkok street protest.
The Phuketwan journalists deny any wrongdoing. A brief statement issued by Reuters last year noted that that the news agency stands by its report.
Phuketwan editor Alan Morison and reporter Chutima Sidasathian were required to attend the office of the Phuket Prosecutor today to learn the date of their next appearance: March 10.
The pair had been led to believe they would appear in court today but instead, they were asked to meet a policeman, who delivered case papers to the prosecutor's office in Phuket City.
According to a document presented to the journalists today, Morison and Khun Chutima are required to next appear on March 10 at the prosecutor's office to hear whether the case against them is to proceed.
If the case goes ahead, the pair may have to go immediately to Phuket Provincial Court. Bail may be requested, the document says.
The journalists have already said that they will go to jail rather than post bail.
Their protest would be aimed at what's seen by them and rights groups as an attack on media freedom. It is believed to be the first time the military has sued the media in Thailand.
The suit revolves around a single paragraph from a Reuters news agency special report on the Rohingya boatpeople, first published online on July 17 last year.
Phuketwan republished online excerpts from the Reuters report later that day, reproducing the key paragraph word for word.
''Royal Thai Navy'' did not appear in the paragraph or in the headlines in Phuketwan or above the original Reuters article. The officer who initiated the suit, Captain Panlob Komtonlok, was also not mentioned.
While the action against the Phuketwan journalists (No. 489/2556) is proceeding, a similar complaint intended for the two Reuters journalists credited with writing the paragraph (No. 490/2556) appears to have been delayed indefinitely by the Bangkok street protest.
The Phuketwan journalists deny any wrongdoing. A brief statement issued by Reuters last year noted that that the news agency stands by its report.
editor if you go jail that meen also they will blacklist your from thailand? previous article i read something about falangs that make crimes will also be blacklisted?
Posted by Micka on February 13, 2014 23:45
Editor Comment:
We haven't looked at that issue, Micka.