Sondhi Limthongkul

sonthi2Sondhi Limthongkul is charged with lèse majesté. This is somewhat ironic as he has made numerous complaints of lèse majesté against others; indeed his whole People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) movement was based on such accusations and disloyalty to the monarchy against others.

Often referred to in the Thai media as a “media tycoon” and a “media firebrand,” this view relates to Sondhi’s recent role as one of the most high profile leaders of the PAD, a right-wing and rabidly royalist movement. PAD played a role in bringing down the Thaksin Shinawatra government in the lead-up to the 2006 military coup. It also mobilized against the governments led by Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat, which PAD considered “proxy governments” for Thaksin. PAD eventually sought to bring down Somchai’s government following its occupation of Bangkok’s two airports and only left the airports following the Constitutional Court’s dissolution of the People’s Power Party, meaning that Somchai’s government collapsed.

PAD followers wear yellow shirts to show their loyalty to the king and Sondhi declared PAD’s fight as a fight to preserve the monarchy. It is ironic, but shows the political use of lèse majesté, that Sondhi is said to have faced up to 32 accusations of lèse majesté.

On 22 January 2009, his police dossier was reportedly completed relating to a case where Sondhi is accused of lèse majesté after he referred to a speech given by Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul (alias Da Torpedo) when he was criticizing her. Sondhi was released on bail of 300,000 baht pending further decisions by the prosecutors.

On 17 April 2009, the Bangkok Post reported an assassination attempt on Sondhi. Many motives have been suggested (see The Times, 17 April 2009, “Thailand’s Yellow Shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul survives assassination attempt” and The Nation, 17 April 2009, “Sondhi in safe condition now: doctor”) .

News on Sondhi Limthongkul’s case:

Bangkok Post, 29 September 2009: “Decision on Sondhi case deferred”

The Nation, 22 January 2009, “Attorney to summon Sondhi on lese majeste charge”

Reuters, 24 July 2008, “Thai protest chief arrested over royal insult”

People’s Daily, 17 April 2006, “Anti-Thaksin leader a no-show for lese majeste interrogation”

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