Democrats to sue ex-PM, three UDD leaders

BANGKOK, 18 March 2010 (NNT) – The ruling Democrat Party is preparing to take legal action against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on defamation charges.

Mr Thepthai Senpong, Spokesperson to the Prime Minister, disclosed that the Prime Minister has assigned the Democrat Party’s lawyers, led by Mr Bandhit Siriphan, to seek evidence to take legal action against the ex-Thai PM and three anti-government UDD leaders, Mr Jatuporn Prompan, Mr Suporn Atthawong and Mr Arisman Pongruangrong.

The former prime minister made abusive statements during a video-linked speech to his supporters during UDD rallies, accusing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of acting like dictator Adolph Hitler, the World War II leader of Nazi Germany. The three core leaders allegedly re-broadcast an edited version of the Prime Minister’s speech during the Songkran mayhem in 2009.

The Democrat Party is tentatively scheduled to file charges against the four figures next week, added Mr Thepthai.

The pro-Thaksin United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) has staged their mass demonstration in Bangkok since 12 March in their move to topple the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.