Chuan to sue over speech by PPP candidate

DEFAMATION

Chuan to sue over speech by PPP candidate

Chuan Leekpai, the chief adviser to the Democrat party, has sued Surachai Danwattananusorn, a People Power party (PPP) candidate in Nakhon Si Thammarat, for defamation. Mr Surachai said he received a notice from Crime Suppression Police yesterday.

Mr Chuan has authorised Tawatchai Jaranakarun to lodge a complaint against Mr Surachai on his behalf.

The police have summoned Mr Surachai for questioning on Jan 23.

He said the complaint was made about a speech he made when he was a leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship of Thailand during a series of rallies against the Council for National Security at Sanam Luang.

He said he made several speeches during the rally and had no idea which one upset the veteran politician, adding he would check tape recordings of his speeches.

He said that any criticism of Mr Chuan was not ill-intentioned, saying that as a politician and public figure, Mr Chuan should be open to criticism.

''I didn't mean to defame him. It was all made in good will,'' he said.