Thai Post
Thai Post (Thai: ไทยโพสต์) is a daily Thai-language newspaper in Thailand. It is owned by the Thai Journal Group Co. Its circulation is in the 100,000-150,000 range. Currently the HQ is in Klong Toei, Bangkok.
On July 16, 2003, the paper published comments from media rights advocate Supinya Klangnarong, who said that the Shin Corporation, then majority owned by the family of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had benefited because of favorable policies by the Thaksin government.
The paper was named as a co-defendant, along with Supinya, in a criminal libel lawsuit brought by Shin Corp. A civil suit sought 400 million baht in compensation.
After the Thaksin family sold its shares in Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings, the company offered to drop the lawsuit on the condition that Supinya apologize for her comments. Supinya refused the offer.
On March 14, 2006, the Criminal Court threw out the criminal lawsuit, saying the article in the Thai Post was presented in good faith and in the public's best interest. On May 8, 2006, Shin Corp. asked that the civil lawsuit be withdrawn. Neither Supinya nor Thai Post had any objections, so the court withdrew the civil suit.
References
- Bangprapa, Mongkol and Charoenpo, Anucha (March 15, 2006) "Supinya lauds 'the public's victory'", Bangkok Post.
- "Media critic acquitted in defamation suit by PM's former telecom firm", The Nation (March 15, 2006).
- Wolff, Ismail (March 15, 2006). "Court acquits Supinya, 'Thai Post'", International Herald Tribune/ThaiDay.
- "Shin drops civil suit against Supinya", International Herald Tribune/ThaiDay (May 9, 2006).