wfn.org | WACC condemns new $10m lawsuit in Shin Corp vs Supinya libel

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

The World Association for Christian Communication, WACC, condemns new $10m 
lawsuit in Shin Corp vs Supinya libel case.

In late 2003, Shin Corp (Thailand) filed a criminal libel suit against Ms 
Supinya Klangnarong, Secretary General of the Campaign for Popular Media 
Reform. She had noted, in an interview published in the Thai Post, that 
Shin Corp profits had soared since Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had 
come to power. Shin Corp was founded by Thaksin and is owned by his family. 
Supinya questioned the relationships between politics and commercial 
interests. In June 2004 the Thai court decided that the case could proceed 
for trial.

On August 24, Shin Corp brought a new civil suit against Supinya and the 
owner and editors of the Thai Post seeking compensation of approximately 
$10 million (400m Baht) for the 'adverse publicity' that had allegedly 
harmed their business interests.

A Buddhist and a former WACC media policy scholar, Supinya is now facing 
serious charges for voicing her concern on government accountability and 
transparency. She faces a huge fine and a lengthy prison sentence.

A cornerstone of WACC's Christian beliefs is that freedom of expression is 
a universal right. But such rights are routinely marginalised by corporate 
media networks which support shareholder interests over and above public 
interests.

WACC condemns the charges against Supinya and calls on the Christian 
community worldwide to support freedom of expression by calling for Shin 
Corp to drop both the criminal and civil suits against her.

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Notes for editors:
For more information on the case see:
http://shincorpvsupinyaklangnarong.blogspot

Contact info
Myriam Horngren, Advocacy and Network Coordinator
mh@wacc.org.uk Office +44 (0) 207 582 9139 Mobile +44 7962 06 26 98

Hi-res photographs are available from Sean Hawkey, Communication Officer
sh@wacc.org.uk	 Office +44 (0) 207 582 9139

WACC affirms that communication creates community, is participatory, leads 
to liberation, supports and develops culture and is prophetic. Media 
monopolies and media moguls exercise enormous power over what ordinary 
citizens read, hear and see. Media content affects our understandings of 
life, of truth, of what is right and fair. As such, people have a right to 
media accountability and media reform.