Prachatai accused of fake news, sued for defamation

Description

On 23 October 2024, a court summons was delivered to Prachatai's office stating that the Nakhrapiwat Company has filed a lawsuit against the Foundation for Community Educational Media (FCEM), the foundation which runs Prachatai, its former editor-in-chief Senator Tewarit Maneechai, and former FCEM President Dr Kasem Sirisampan for for defamation by publication and bringing into a computer system and sharing false information.

The company claimed that Prachatai was spreading false information about its relationship with the Thai Army in a news article published on 15 March 2024 after the release of an animation film about the 1932 Siamese Revolution, claiming that the article included the false information that the company received funding from the Army to produce the animation. Three other people who shared the article are also facing a lawsuit.

The 15 March article reported that, according to the analysis of the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand, the Army had previously commissioned 11 media production projects from the Nakraphiwat Company. The report noted that the animation was not named on the list and that its producers also said that they did not receive government funding to make the animation.

The animation has been criticised for misinterpreting historical events and for painting those behind the 1932 revolution in a bad light. There were also reports that several army units were screening the animation to conscripts and officers, with at least one unit posting on its Facebook page that the film was being screened to promote patriotism.

Information
Number of attacked persons or entities related to media
3
Do they work as freelance or media?
Yes
Position in media
Status of journalists
Gender
Male
Country
Bangkok
Full name or name of group
Identified
The name of perpetrator (individual/group)
Nakraphiwat Company Limited
Gender
Attack mention about gender background/sexual wording?
No
Date of incident
Type of incident
Criminal lawsuit/charge: Defamation