Sondhi may face legal action from Thai Rak Thai party
{{date|February 12, 2006}}

According to the [[Thailand|Thai]] News Agency [[w:Sondhi Limthongkul|Sondhi Limthongkul]], an outspoken critic of the government and Prime Minister, may face legal action.

This would not be the first time the de-facto leader of the campaign to oust the Prime minister has faced legal action over his words.  In 2005, a number of lawsuits were filed by the Prime Minister against Sondhi, most notable being a 1 billion baht suit in November.  Thailand's King, [[w:Bhumibol Adulyadej|Bhumibol Adulyadej]] (Rama the ninth) made use of his 78th birthday speech to comment on the issue and advise that the government must accept some criticism.  This resulted in the dropping of the lawsuits.

Sondhi's recurring open-air rallies and protests have made calls for Prime Minister [[w:Thaksin Shinawatra|Thaksin Shinawatra]] to resign or to be impeached.  It is remarks made at a rally held this weekend at the Royal Plaza in [[w:Bangkok|Bangkok]] that are under scrutiny by lawyers for the ruling [[w:Thai Rak Thai|Thai Rak Thai]] party.  Dr Surapong, who announced the party's investigation of the remarks, described them as "offensive" and "verbal abuse".  He called for a halt to the accusations whilst a petition detailing alleged offenses of the Prime Minister was reviewed.

That petition was submitted for the attention of the King as the climax to Sondhi's last rally in Royal Plaza on February 5.  After addressing a crowd estimated to number more than 100,000.  Sondhi then delivered the petition through an aid at the residence of the President of the Privy Council.  Several accusations are leveled at the Prime Minister in the petition, including allegations that he has used his position for personal financial gain.

A new petition seeking the Prime Minister's impeachment, which was started on February 10, reached 7,500 signatures in just 3 days.  Thammasat university's student union has started this effort which, according to the country's constitution, requires a total of 50,000 signatures gathered within 180 days for the impeachment process to begin.

== Related news ==

*{{wikinews|title=Sondhi continues using Thailand Weekly show to attack PM|date=January 14, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Thai PM sues media critic for one billion Baht|date=November 17, 2005}}
*{{wikinews|title=Thai PM sues newspaper for 500 million baht|date=October 12, 2005}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=6613
|title=Students gather 7,500 signatures on impeachment petition
|author={{w|Thailand News Agency|TNA}}
|pub=MCOT
|date=February 12, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=6604
|title=Ruling party mulls legal action against leading critic
|author={{w|Thailand News Agency|TNA}}
|pub=MCOT
|date=February 12, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=6601
|title=Mass anti-Thaksin rally ends peacefully, third gathering announced
|author={{w|Thailand News Agency|TNA}}
|pub=MCOT
|date=February 12, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.manager.co.th/IHT/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000015746
|title=Sondhi delivers petition to the King
|author=
|pub=ThaiDay
|date=February 5, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/opinion/2006/January/opinion_January43.xml&section=opinion&col=
|title=Thaksin and the king: Lessons from Thailand
|author=Philip Bowring
|pub=Khaleej Times
|date=January 15, 2006}}

{{Publish}}
{{archived}}

[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Thailand]]
[[Category:Media]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Thaksin Shinawatra]]
[[Category:Brian McNeil (Wikinewsie)]]
According to the Thai News Agency Sondhi Limthongkul, an outspoken critic of the government and Prime Minister, may face legal action.

This would not be the first time the de-facto leader of the campaign to oust the Prime minister has faced legal action over his words.  In 2005, a number of lawsuits were filed by the Prime Minister against Sondhi, most notable being a 1 billion baht suit in November.  Thailand's King, Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama the ninth) made use of his 78th birthday speech to comment on the issue and advise that the government must accept some criticism.  This resulted in the dropping of the lawsuits.

Sondhi's recurring open-air rallies and protests have made calls for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to resign or to be impeached.  It is remarks made at a rally held this weekend at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok that are under scrutiny by lawyers for the ruling Thai Rak Thai party.  Dr Surapong, who announced the party's investigation of the remarks, described them as "offensive" and "verbal abuse".  He called for a halt to the accusations whilst a petition detailing alleged offenses of the Prime Minister was reviewed.

That petition was submitted for the attention of the King as the climax to Sondhi's last rally in Royal Plaza on February 5.  After addressing a crowd estimated to number more than 100,000.  Sondhi then delivered the petition through an aid at the residence of the President of the Privy Council.  Several accusations are leveled at the Prime Minister in the petition, including allegations that he has used his position for personal financial gain.

A new petition seeking the Prime Minister's impeachment, which was started on February 10, reached 7,500 signatures in just 3 days.  Thammasat university's student union has started this effort which, according to the country's constitution, requires a total of 50,000 signatures gathered within 180 days for the impeachment process to begin.

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Asia Thailand Media Politics and conflicts Thaksin Shinawatra Brian McNeil (Wikinewsie)