Threat of legal action over Thaksin website

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MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

Election commissioner Sodsri Sattayatham has threatened to take legal action against the webmaster of the hi-thaksin.net site, allegedly for accusing her of taking sides with a political party.

''I don't know what the intention of the website is,'' said Mrs Sodsri. ''As an election commissioner, I have never blamed any party.

''If one does wrong, I will make a literal reference. Do not mention any personal issues, or it can be defamation. I have never referred to the People Power party [PPP].''

The website, set up by supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said people would get Mr Thaksin as leader if they vote for PPP leader Samak Sundaravej. Every vote for the PPP would help get Mr Thaksin home safely, the site says. Many former Thai Rak Thai members have joined the PPP.

Mrs Sodsri denied reports that she had ordered the website blocked. If the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry closed it, that is because the ministry has seen that its content could cause disunity, she said.

Mrs Sodsri also said she was upset by some unfair criticism of her and the Election Commission (EC). Election commissioners are under a lot of pressure and may stop taking action against political parties in connection with the Dec 23 election and let the parties in conflict fight their battles in the courts, she said.

Mrs Sodsri said the EC was facing heavy pressure as it was caught in the middle between the Council for National Security and the PPP. She said she was also concerned about the national situation after the general election.

PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee insisted yesterday that his party had nothing to do with the hi-thaksin.net site. Mr Surapong also denied he knew the webmaster. He said it was the duty of officials concerned to find the truth.

Although hi-thaksin.net supports the PPP, it should focus on the party's good policies instead of posting any content that might backfire on the party, said Mr Surapong, who was in government with the now-disbanded Thai Rak Thai party of deposed prime minister Thaksin.

Although hi-thaksin.net was inaccessible yesterday, ICT inspector-general Thaneerat Siripachana denied his ministry had blocked it. He said if too many people tried to access it at the same time the heavy traffic could automatically make the site shut down.

By : Bangkok Post