Gold Medal: Lawyer suggests suing Australian media for defamation – BBC News Thailand

The Principal Dr. Rongthong Naannan, President of the National Waste Collection Organization An Australian lawyer friend recommended a defamation lawsuit against an Australian journalist following a report on an attempt by political activists to demand that the Australian government block plans to retire in Perth without issuing a visa

The Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Rongthong posted the announcement on his Facebook page at 3:30 pm on December 5, after Chris Barrett, Sydney’s Southeast Asia reporter, announced the news. , a newspaper affiliate. The report, headlined “Ruthless Thai watcher wants to retire in Australia. Victims who fled here say he must be stopped”, began at 5am on December 5 on the SMP website, Australian time.

This article has a headline that can be translated into Thai as “Ruthless watcher who wants to retire in Australia. But his victims who fled here said this man’s efforts must be stopped.”

The CEO of Mongkutwattana Public Company Limited said this article “Defamation, defamation, falsehood”

“A lawyer friend from Australia…advised me to assess the financial compensation of my hourly wage, and I assumed it was the CEO. Mongkutwattana Plc has a rate of 200 Australian dollars per hour. From the time this article was published at 05.00 AM on December 5, 2022, until this article is officially withdrawn according to the law of such defamatory news articles.

Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Rongthong that Thai lawyers recommend bringing a criminal case to the courts in Thailand. “To the perpetrators, Chris Barrett and three other Thai nationals referred to in the article.

The content of this article presents an interview with two Thai refugees in Australia who say they were “victims” of the actions of Gold Medal Maj. Gen. and the network, as well as reporting on the Pavin Chatchawalpongpan campaign. Associate Professor of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies Kyoto University and political refugees called on the Australian government to deny the immigration application of the Gold Medal Major General Dr

This news report said in one chapter that the Gold Medal Major General Dr. Describing his plans on social media, his father bought a property in Perth. in the west of the country in 1992 and would travel between his home in Perth and his home in Bangkok. to rest after retirement

He said retirement outside of Thailand. “It doesn’t mean I’m racist,” a charge he accused political opponents and the target of his organization’s campaign of inciting. or escape prosecution

He said in a post to his 162,000 Facebook followers: “The Australian government welcomes dictators like me.”

SMH reporters reported that Major General Dr. Ronngthong refused an interview When the phone called He said that information that said he was moving to Australia was “fake news”.

BBC Thai has contacted the Gold Medal of the Major General Dr through a Facebook account as well but there was no reply

This article includes interviews with two Thai men who reporters identified as the “victims” of Major General Dr Rongthong. I caused them to apply for asylum to live in Australia

Krittanai Thepsai, better known as “Jack”, now lives in Geelong. Victoria’s 2nd largest city he said was attacked by the “Group of Gold Medal Doctors” He was forced to seek refuge in Australia.

Online groups opposed him in 2014 after he criticized the then Rama IX, who died in 2016.

He said that the Maj. Gen. Dr Rongthong has posted personal information about him. and he received death threats and warnings that a group of men would break into his home in Chiang Mai and rape his 16-year-old daughter.

“I can’t believe the gold medalist will get a visa to Australia,” he said in the article.

Pisal Thanathavornlarp, ​​another man taking refuge in Australia said he left Bangkok to go into exile in Sydney after he was hunted for a social media post he posted in 2014.

He said his comments were satirical and figurative. and not directly criticizing the monarchy But after the Maj. Gen. Dr. Ronngthong posted his phone number online He was threatened with threatening calls.

With safety concerns and mental health issues So he was ordained in a temple. But after being prosecuted for lese majeste He moved to Australia for fear of being sent to prison.

“If the gold medal wasn’t posted, it wouldn’t have had such a big impact. Because it’s a gold coin Strangers just come to insult me ​​on Facebook. My life has completely changed,” says Pisan, who goes by the name Max in Sydney.

Somsak Rachaso, another victim in the witch hunt Attacked online by Major General Dr Rongthong, he discovers that the “vigilantes” crossed the border after he was forced out of his job in Sydney. after the criticism intensified in 2016 following the death of King Rama IX

The ABC reported at a time when Somsak’s former employers were concerned about the safety of employees and customers, after Chief Gen. Dr. Rongthong posted that “Thai people there [ในออสเตรเลีย] Do not contact Do not give him or his family a job.”

On November 10, Major General Dr Thongthong Post messages and photos of your family on your Facebook page. Announcing to move to the country to live after retirement in Perth. Australia by stating that

“I will change my position from striker to midfielder. And let my wife continue to be a protector, and my 3 children, 2 on the far right and 2 on the far left, who are specialists in radiotherapy and oncology together, will both be front guards.

As for the youngest son, he is an auditor who has just completed his master’s degree in finance. He will be a pair of midfielders with me and another of my nephews at Mongkutwattana Public Company Limited for a few years when the three strikers and a midfielder can fly individually. I’m going to live my life by the sea in Perth. Western Australia I’m turning 63. I’m old. Unable to push the shield anymore, Major General Vladimir Putong, 10 Nov. ’22 at 12:30 pm

After this announcement was published this caused a lot of criticism from his opponents.

Dissidents and Thai refugees abroad unite in opposition to Maj Gen. gold medal in Australia

Victims and activists are petitioning the Australian government to deny Maj Gen Goldman the ability to spend his retirement in Perth. Claims he was ineligible They say he engages in and supports hate speech. and support the progression of critics of the monarchy throughout Thailand and abroad. “Regardless of the consequences.”

“His use of social media has been riddled with hate speech and dehumanization of people with values ​​that differ from his,” said one letter of the complaint. “His actions were clearly divisive and against Australian values.”

Previously, Pavin Chachawanpongphan Associate Professor of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies of Kyoto University and political refugees set up a list hunting campaign called “Calling Australia to deny the entry of Major General Goldman Nak Nak” on Change.org, with 16,101 signatures to date this.

Pawin was one of those who wrote to the Australian Embassy in Bangkok. Regarding the gold medal, he said, “Many lives were affected by his exaggerated actions.”

“His behavior will not be tolerated in any truly democratic country in the world, including Australia.”

Maj wrote. Gen. Dr. Rongthong on Facebook that an international network had followed him and prevented him from traveling to Australia, Europe and the United States. And the Australian government should not believe what is said about it.