After a fiveyear wait for the Bt12 million in compensation demanded by 12 people from the Kamol Sukosol company for radioactive contamination nine years ago, they have only managed to win little more than Bt600,000 in a Court of Appeals ruling.
The judges said the plaintiffs' appeal for Bt12,676,942 had no grounds, and upheld the Bt640,270 granted to them by the Civil Court in March 2004, which was reduced by Bt100,000 because the 4th and 5th plaintiffs are husband and wife and in legal terms are regarded as one person.
In the Civil Court ruled in March 2004 that the company had to pay Bt640,270 to the 12 plaintiffs.
The 12 plaintiffs had lodged a suit with the Civil Court demanding Bt109,264,360 from the company for being exposed to radioactive Cobolt 60, which was found abandoned at a warehouse owned by the Kamol Sukosol firm in January 2000.
Earlier in 2002, the 12 plaintiffs, including a number of scavengers and the owner of a scrap metal shop, had lodged a lawsuit against the Office of Atoms for Peace, demanding money for its failure to enforce regulations regarding proper storage of radioactive material. The Central Administrative Court ruled that the atomic agency pay them more than Bt5 million.
Sonthaya Sapathum, the 10th and only plaintiff present at the courthouse to hear the verdict yesterday, said he would speak to rest of the victims and consider if the case should be put before the Supreme Court.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Magnificent seven
In the most important, most revered event since the invention of the brontosaurus trap,Microsoft shipped the most incredibly fabulous operating system ever made; the release of Windows 7 also spurred a new generation of personal computers of all sizes at prices well below last month's offers.The top reason Windows 7 does not suck: There is no registered website called Windows7Sucks.com
Kindle e-book reader maker Amazon.com and new Nook e-book reader vendor Barnes and Noble got it on; B&N got great reviews for the "Kindle killer"Nook, with dual screens and touch controls so you can "turn" pages, plays MP3s and allows many non-B&N book formats, although not the Kindle one;Amazon then killed the US version of its Kindle in favour of the international one, reduced its price to $260(8,700 baht), same as the Nook; it's not yet clear what you can get in Thailand with a Nook, but you sure can't (yet) get much, relatively speaking, with a Kindle;but here's the biggest difference so far,which Amazon.com has ignored: the Nook lets you lend e-books to any other Nook owner, just as if they were paper books; the borrowed books expire on the borrower's Nook in two weeks.
Phone maker Nokia of Finland announced it is suing iPhone maker Apple of America for being a copycat; lawyers said they figure Nokia can get at least one, probably two per cent (retail) for every iPhone sold by Steve "President for Life" Jobs and crew via the lawsuit,which sure beats working for it -$6 (200 baht) to $12(400 baht) on 30 million phones sold so far, works out to $400 million or 25 percent of the whole Apple empire profits during the last quarter;there were 10 patent thefts, the Finnish executives said, on everything from moving data to security and encryption.
Nokia of Finland announced that it is one month behind on shipping its new flagship N900 phone, the first to run on Linux software; delay of the $750(25,000 baht) phone had absolutely no part in making Nokia so short that it had to sue Apple, slap yourself for such a thought.
Tim Berners-Lee, who created the World Wide Web, said he had one regret:the double slash that follows the "http:"in standard web addresses; he estimated that 14.2 gazillion users have wasted 48.72 bazillion hours typing those two keystrokes, and he's sorry; of course there's no reason to ever type that, since your browser does it for you when you type "www.bangkokpost.com" but Tim needs to admit he made one error in his lifetime.
The International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations, which doesn't sell any phones or services, announced that there should be a mobile phone charger that will work with any phone; now who would ever have thought of that, without a UN body to wind up a major study on the subject?;the GSM Association estimates that 51,000 tonnes of chargers are made each year in order to keep companies able to have their own unique ones.
The Well, Doh Award of the Week was presented at arm's length to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; the group's deputy secretary-general Petko Draganov said that developing countries will miss some of the stuff available on the Internet if they don't install more broadband infrastructure; a report that used your tax baht to compile said that quite a few people use mobile phones but companies are more likely to invest in countries with excellent broadband connections; no one ever had thought of this before, right?
Sun Microsystems , as a result of the Oracle takeover, said it will allow 3,000 current workers never to bother coming to work again; Sun referred to the losses as "jobs," not people; now the fourth largest server maker in the world, Sun said it lost $2.2 billion in its last fiscal year; European regulators are holding up approval of the Oracle purchase in the hope of getting some money in exchange for not involving Oracle in court cases.
The multi-gazillionaire and very annoying investor Carl Icahn resigned from the board at Yahoo ; he spun it as a vote of confidence, saying current directors are taking the formerly threatened company seriously; Yahoo reported increased profits but smaller revenues in the third quarter.
The US House of Representatives voted to censure Vietnam for jailing bloggers; the non-binding resolution sponsored by southern California congresswoman Loretta Sanchez said the Internet is "a crucial tool for the citizens of Vietnam to be able to exercise their freedom of expression and association;"Hanoi has recently jailed at least nine activists for up to six years apiece for holding pro-democracy banners. Iran jailed blogger Hossein "Hoder" Derakshan for 10 months - in solitary confinement.
Kindle e-book reader maker Amazon.com and new Nook e-book reader vendor Barnes and Noble got it on; B&N got great reviews for the "Kindle killer"Nook, with dual screens and touch controls so you can "turn" pages, plays MP3s and allows many non-B&N book formats, although not the Kindle one;Amazon then killed the US version of its Kindle in favour of the international one, reduced its price to $260(8,700 baht), same as the Nook; it's not yet clear what you can get in Thailand with a Nook, but you sure can't (yet) get much, relatively speaking, with a Kindle;but here's the biggest difference so far,which Amazon.com has ignored: the Nook lets you lend e-books to any other Nook owner, just as if they were paper books; the borrowed books expire on the borrower's Nook in two weeks.
Phone maker Nokia of Finland announced it is suing iPhone maker Apple of America for being a copycat; lawyers said they figure Nokia can get at least one, probably two per cent (retail) for every iPhone sold by Steve "President for Life" Jobs and crew via the lawsuit,which sure beats working for it -$6 (200 baht) to $12(400 baht) on 30 million phones sold so far, works out to $400 million or 25 percent of the whole Apple empire profits during the last quarter;there were 10 patent thefts, the Finnish executives said, on everything from moving data to security and encryption.
Nokia of Finland announced that it is one month behind on shipping its new flagship N900 phone, the first to run on Linux software; delay of the $750(25,000 baht) phone had absolutely no part in making Nokia so short that it had to sue Apple, slap yourself for such a thought.
Tim Berners-Lee, who created the World Wide Web, said he had one regret:the double slash that follows the "http:"in standard web addresses; he estimated that 14.2 gazillion users have wasted 48.72 bazillion hours typing those two keystrokes, and he's sorry; of course there's no reason to ever type that, since your browser does it for you when you type "www.bangkokpost.com" but Tim needs to admit he made one error in his lifetime.
The International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations, which doesn't sell any phones or services, announced that there should be a mobile phone charger that will work with any phone; now who would ever have thought of that, without a UN body to wind up a major study on the subject?;the GSM Association estimates that 51,000 tonnes of chargers are made each year in order to keep companies able to have their own unique ones.
The Well, Doh Award of the Week was presented at arm's length to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; the group's deputy secretary-general Petko Draganov said that developing countries will miss some of the stuff available on the Internet if they don't install more broadband infrastructure; a report that used your tax baht to compile said that quite a few people use mobile phones but companies are more likely to invest in countries with excellent broadband connections; no one ever had thought of this before, right?
Sun Microsystems , as a result of the Oracle takeover, said it will allow 3,000 current workers never to bother coming to work again; Sun referred to the losses as "jobs," not people; now the fourth largest server maker in the world, Sun said it lost $2.2 billion in its last fiscal year; European regulators are holding up approval of the Oracle purchase in the hope of getting some money in exchange for not involving Oracle in court cases.
The multi-gazillionaire and very annoying investor Carl Icahn resigned from the board at Yahoo ; he spun it as a vote of confidence, saying current directors are taking the formerly threatened company seriously; Yahoo reported increased profits but smaller revenues in the third quarter.
The US House of Representatives voted to censure Vietnam for jailing bloggers; the non-binding resolution sponsored by southern California congresswoman Loretta Sanchez said the Internet is "a crucial tool for the citizens of Vietnam to be able to exercise their freedom of expression and association;"Hanoi has recently jailed at least nine activists for up to six years apiece for holding pro-democracy banners. Iran jailed blogger Hossein "Hoder" Derakshan for 10 months - in solitary confinement.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Kadeer says Chinese death sentences will "energage" Uighurs
Exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer yesterday said a Chinese court's decision to sentence six Uighurs to death over the July unrest would serve only to "furthe renrage" her people.
Kadeer, the US-based leader of the World Uighur Congress, added that she believed the Uighurs were not tried according to Chinese or international law.
"This is not going to create peace and stability in the region. this will further enrage the Uighur people," she said while on a visit to New Zealand, a day after the sentences in the Xinjiang regional capital Urumqi.
"For the Uighur people around the world this is very sad day, a day of mourning," Kadeer told Auckland stuednt radio station 95bFM through an interpreter.
The six were convicted of murder and other crimes Monday by a court n Urumqi in the first trials over July unrest in which nearly 200 people were killed.
China Central Television (CCTV) said one other defendant was sentenced to life in prison over the violence, in which members of the Uighur minority went on a rampage in attacks directed at members of the dominant Han ethnic group.
Xinhua news agency said the seven, all men, were convicred in three separate cases. It identified them by names that appeared to be Uighur.
Kadeer said in the radio interview during a four day visit to New Zealand that accused Uighurs did not receive proper legal defence or due process.
"Not only the six Uighurs, we believe a lot of Uighurs have been killed through torture in the prisons after July 5. This is an injustice," Kadeer said.
She added she hoped the international community would not ignore the death sentences.
July's unrest in western Xinjiang region was the worst ethnic violence to hit China in decades, leaving 197 people dead, most of them Han,and more than 1,600 injured, according to the government.
China's 8 million Uighurs have long complained o freligious, political and cultural oppression by Chinese authorities.
Kadeer arrived in New Zealand on Monday after being invited by the Green Party, a minor political party with nine seats in parliament.
She was to speak at public meetings in Auckland and Wellington yesterday and today and is due to meet Green legislators before I eaving tomorrow.
At a public meeting at the University of Auckland on yesterday,Kadeer was greeted by a small number of vocal pro-Beijing protesters brandishing a banner reading "AU does not welcome terrorist".
The Chinese government describes Kadeer's World Uighur Congress as a separatist terrorist movement and accuses the group of directing July's unrest.
Kadeer, the US-based leader of the World Uighur Congress, added that she believed the Uighurs were not tried according to Chinese or international law.
"This is not going to create peace and stability in the region. this will further enrage the Uighur people," she said while on a visit to New Zealand, a day after the sentences in the Xinjiang regional capital Urumqi.
"For the Uighur people around the world this is very sad day, a day of mourning," Kadeer told Auckland stuednt radio station 95bFM through an interpreter.
The six were convicted of murder and other crimes Monday by a court n Urumqi in the first trials over July unrest in which nearly 200 people were killed.
China Central Television (CCTV) said one other defendant was sentenced to life in prison over the violence, in which members of the Uighur minority went on a rampage in attacks directed at members of the dominant Han ethnic group.
Xinhua news agency said the seven, all men, were convicred in three separate cases. It identified them by names that appeared to be Uighur.
Kadeer said in the radio interview during a four day visit to New Zealand that accused Uighurs did not receive proper legal defence or due process.
"Not only the six Uighurs, we believe a lot of Uighurs have been killed through torture in the prisons after July 5. This is an injustice," Kadeer said.
She added she hoped the international community would not ignore the death sentences.
July's unrest in western Xinjiang region was the worst ethnic violence to hit China in decades, leaving 197 people dead, most of them Han,and more than 1,600 injured, according to the government.
China's 8 million Uighurs have long complained o freligious, political and cultural oppression by Chinese authorities.
Kadeer arrived in New Zealand on Monday after being invited by the Green Party, a minor political party with nine seats in parliament.
She was to speak at public meetings in Auckland and Wellington yesterday and today and is due to meet Green legislators before I eaving tomorrow.
At a public meeting at the University of Auckland on yesterday,Kadeer was greeted by a small number of vocal pro-Beijing protesters brandishing a banner reading "AU does not welcome terrorist".
The Chinese government describes Kadeer's World Uighur Congress as a separatist terrorist movement and accuses the group of directing July's unrest.
Monday, October 12, 2009
PHEU THAI WANTS ACTION AGAINST PM FOR ACCEPTING GOLD RING
The opposition Pheu Thai Party yesterday demanded the National Anti-Corruption Commission take action against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for accepting a gold ring worth over Bt3,000 in violation of Article 103 of the NACC Act.
Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the NACC had yet to decide on whether to indict Abhisit for accepting two pieces of ivory worth over Bt200,000 from Transport Minister Sophon Saram while he was visiting locals in Buri Ram.
Abhisit on Saturday accepted a gold ring worth more than Bt3,000 from a supporter in Ubon Ratchathani during his visit to the northeastern province. "Abhisit accepted the ring which is worth about Bt4,000 [according to current gold price] in defiance of the NACC's authority. If the NACC ignores Abhisit's action, all members should call on it to quit,'' he said.
Prompong dismissed PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey's claim the ring was bought many years ago for a few hundred baht, saying the valuation must be the current price.
Abhisit said he was ready to return the ring if it was found to be worth over Bt3,000. He said after accepting the ring, he instructed officials to check if its value was more than the legal limit. If it was more than Bt3,000, he would be willing to return it.
NACC commissioner Wicha Mahakhun said if politicians had any doubt that the gifts they received were beyond legal limits, they could ask the PM's Office Minister to check their value. He pointed out the case where the PM accepted a couple of ivory pieces from Sophon and after finding out later the gifts were over the legal value limit, notified the House speaker and returned them.
"If the gifts are over Bt3,000 and they are returned, the matter is ended. This is not about corruption or fraud,'' he said.
Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the NACC had yet to decide on whether to indict Abhisit for accepting two pieces of ivory worth over Bt200,000 from Transport Minister Sophon Saram while he was visiting locals in Buri Ram.
Abhisit on Saturday accepted a gold ring worth more than Bt3,000 from a supporter in Ubon Ratchathani during his visit to the northeastern province. "Abhisit accepted the ring which is worth about Bt4,000 [according to current gold price] in defiance of the NACC's authority. If the NACC ignores Abhisit's action, all members should call on it to quit,'' he said.
Prompong dismissed PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey's claim the ring was bought many years ago for a few hundred baht, saying the valuation must be the current price.
Abhisit said he was ready to return the ring if it was found to be worth over Bt3,000. He said after accepting the ring, he instructed officials to check if its value was more than the legal limit. If it was more than Bt3,000, he would be willing to return it.
NACC commissioner Wicha Mahakhun said if politicians had any doubt that the gifts they received were beyond legal limits, they could ask the PM's Office Minister to check their value. He pointed out the case where the PM accepted a couple of ivory pieces from Sophon and after finding out later the gifts were over the legal value limit, notified the House speaker and returned them.
"If the gifts are over Bt3,000 and they are returned, the matter is ended. This is not about corruption or fraud,'' he said.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
JAPANESE VOICE INVESTMENT FEARS
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce yesterday expressed its concern about the court injunction on 76 industrial projects, which affects some of its members and could have a wider effect on other projects in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate.
Yo Jitsukata, president of the Bangkok-based chamber, said in a statement that some plants in the estate might have to shut down their operations due to a shortage of raw materials to be supplied by some of the suspended projects.
Among the 76 projects, two belong to Ube Nylon (Thailand) and Siam Mitsui PTA.
He said that if the dispute were not resolved quickly, it could affect Thailand's inward investment, including that from Japan. This would also pose a threat to the Kingdom's economic recovery as well as the strategy to strengthen Thailand's basic industries.
Jitsukata added that Japanese investors were concerned about that Japanese investors were concerned about pollution problems and had cooperated with the public sector to ensure economic development went hand in hand with protecting the environment.
They have also worked with Japanese organisations to address environmental problems in Thailand.
Meanwhile, Tevin Vongvanich, chief finance officer of PTT, said the company would need to review its five-year investment plan, as some of the investment projects were affected by the injunction-including the sixth gas-separation plant and a natural-gas-separation plant and a natural-gas station.
PTT plans to invest Bt230 billion during 2009-2013, including Bt148 billion by its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production. Twenty-five of the 76 suspended projects belong to the group.
"Some projects are not yet affected in the absence of an official order, but we need to prepare ourselves, as the court is reviewing the injunction and the case against government units. The review of the investment plan will take into account long-term effects on Map Ta Phut, and will provide new investment options if projects in Map Ta Phut are suspended," Tevin said.
Toyo-Thai Corp, a construction compamy, said work at two projects in Map Ta Phut continued as usual, and the company had realised 80 per cent of the construction value.
Kasikorn Research Centre yesterday said the government needed to eliminate the environmental hurdles for the 76 projects, because the projects are intended to strengthen Thailand's energy security and reduce imports.
Yo Jitsukata, president of the Bangkok-based chamber, said in a statement that some plants in the estate might have to shut down their operations due to a shortage of raw materials to be supplied by some of the suspended projects.
Among the 76 projects, two belong to Ube Nylon (Thailand) and Siam Mitsui PTA.
He said that if the dispute were not resolved quickly, it could affect Thailand's inward investment, including that from Japan. This would also pose a threat to the Kingdom's economic recovery as well as the strategy to strengthen Thailand's basic industries.
Jitsukata added that Japanese investors were concerned about that Japanese investors were concerned about pollution problems and had cooperated with the public sector to ensure economic development went hand in hand with protecting the environment.
They have also worked with Japanese organisations to address environmental problems in Thailand.
Meanwhile, Tevin Vongvanich, chief finance officer of PTT, said the company would need to review its five-year investment plan, as some of the investment projects were affected by the injunction-including the sixth gas-separation plant and a natural-gas-separation plant and a natural-gas station.
PTT plans to invest Bt230 billion during 2009-2013, including Bt148 billion by its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production. Twenty-five of the 76 suspended projects belong to the group.
"Some projects are not yet affected in the absence of an official order, but we need to prepare ourselves, as the court is reviewing the injunction and the case against government units. The review of the investment plan will take into account long-term effects on Map Ta Phut, and will provide new investment options if projects in Map Ta Phut are suspended," Tevin said.
Toyo-Thai Corp, a construction compamy, said work at two projects in Map Ta Phut continued as usual, and the company had realised 80 per cent of the construction value.
Kasikorn Research Centre yesterday said the government needed to eliminate the environmental hurdles for the 76 projects, because the projects are intended to strengthen Thailand's energy security and reduce imports.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
New UN guide on dealing with human trafficking
A guide is now available for relevant agencies to consult in upholding human rights and ethics during counter-trafficking operations.
Published by the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP), the guide will serve as a tool for policy makers, practitioners and researchers.
Among the key principles are that all officials involved must prioritise personal safety and security, and that they must get informed consent with no coercion.
"Do no harm. Be compassionate and neutral," the guide adds.
It insists that relevant officials must ensure anonymity and confidentiality to the greatest extent possible.
It also calls for the adequate selection and preparation of interpreters.
This special guide is entitled, "Guide to Ethics and Human Rights in Counter Trafficking".
In collaboration with Thailand's Department of Special Investigation, UNIAP has already translated the guide into Thai.
There are now 8,000 copies of the Thai version.
These copies are to be distributed to law-enforcement agencies and relevant officials across the country.
"Rather than improving the lives of victims of trafficking, you can actually put them in greater danger if you don't apply some very basic rules on ethics", Ratchada Jayagupta said yesterday in her capacity as Thailand National Project Coordinator for UNIAP.
She was speaking at a workshop in Bangkok.
The workshop aimed at providing a strong and well-coordinated response to human trafficking among all partners and organisations engaged in counter-trafficking work in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS).
The GMS countries are China, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam.
"Counter-trafficking practitioners, especially law enforcement officials, must have a good understanding of the essence of human rights and the right to basic liberties of their fellow human beings, in order to be able to bring justice to everyone involved in a professional and ethical manner", Pol Colonel Tawee Sodsong said at the workshop.
He is the Director General of Thailand's Department of Special Investigations.
Published by the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP), the guide will serve as a tool for policy makers, practitioners and researchers.
Among the key principles are that all officials involved must prioritise personal safety and security, and that they must get informed consent with no coercion.
"Do no harm. Be compassionate and neutral," the guide adds.
It insists that relevant officials must ensure anonymity and confidentiality to the greatest extent possible.
It also calls for the adequate selection and preparation of interpreters.
This special guide is entitled, "Guide to Ethics and Human Rights in Counter Trafficking".
In collaboration with Thailand's Department of Special Investigation, UNIAP has already translated the guide into Thai.
There are now 8,000 copies of the Thai version.
These copies are to be distributed to law-enforcement agencies and relevant officials across the country.
"Rather than improving the lives of victims of trafficking, you can actually put them in greater danger if you don't apply some very basic rules on ethics", Ratchada Jayagupta said yesterday in her capacity as Thailand National Project Coordinator for UNIAP.
She was speaking at a workshop in Bangkok.
The workshop aimed at providing a strong and well-coordinated response to human trafficking among all partners and organisations engaged in counter-trafficking work in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS).
The GMS countries are China, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam.
"Counter-trafficking practitioners, especially law enforcement officials, must have a good understanding of the essence of human rights and the right to basic liberties of their fellow human beings, in order to be able to bring justice to everyone involved in a professional and ethical manner", Pol Colonel Tawee Sodsong said at the workshop.
He is the Director General of Thailand's Department of Special Investigations.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
High court to rule on terror cases
Hot-button issues including gun rights and counterterrorism will be on the docket when the US Supreme Court, including newest member Sonia Sotomayor, begins a new term today.
The nation's highest court, whose decisions deeply affect US policy, will also go to work amid growing speculation over the possible departure of a judge.
The nine justices have agreed to examine 55 cases this term. They will soon decide whether to add to that roster an appeal brought by Guantanamo Bay detainees who have been cleared for release and want to resettle in the US.
Another sensitive case likely to be taken up by the court is President Barack Obama's request to block the release of photos showing detainee abuse at the hands of US personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, despite a court order demanding the images be made public.
The justices have already agreed to take on a case that involves defining the parameters of the term "material support to terrorism", a charge that has been levelled in recent years in dozens of cases to obtain some 60 convictions. It has become an important tool for prosecutors because it is such a broad term.
But its use is being contested by a rights group on behalf of an organisation that has worked on closely with members of the Kurdistan Workers Party and the Tamil Tigers.
Whatever decision the court makes,it will affect dozens of detainees at Guantanamo who have had the charge levelled against them.
On gun rights, the court will hear a case asking it to specify whether its June 2008 ruling confirming Americans' rights to bear firearms, at home and for self defence, applies even where local and state governments ban weapons.
The justices will also decide whether minors can be sentenced to life in prison without parole for crimes other than murder. About 100 prisoners face this situation in the US.
The court also will be asked to decide whether the immunity of former Somali prime minister Mohammed Ali Samatar can be lifted to allow him to be pursued for alleged torture and murders committed in the 1980s.
The nation's highest court, whose decisions deeply affect US policy, will also go to work amid growing speculation over the possible departure of a judge.
The nine justices have agreed to examine 55 cases this term. They will soon decide whether to add to that roster an appeal brought by Guantanamo Bay detainees who have been cleared for release and want to resettle in the US.
Another sensitive case likely to be taken up by the court is President Barack Obama's request to block the release of photos showing detainee abuse at the hands of US personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, despite a court order demanding the images be made public.
The justices have already agreed to take on a case that involves defining the parameters of the term "material support to terrorism", a charge that has been levelled in recent years in dozens of cases to obtain some 60 convictions. It has become an important tool for prosecutors because it is such a broad term.
But its use is being contested by a rights group on behalf of an organisation that has worked on closely with members of the Kurdistan Workers Party and the Tamil Tigers.
Whatever decision the court makes,it will affect dozens of detainees at Guantanamo who have had the charge levelled against them.
On gun rights, the court will hear a case asking it to specify whether its June 2008 ruling confirming Americans' rights to bear firearms, at home and for self defence, applies even where local and state governments ban weapons.
The justices will also decide whether minors can be sentenced to life in prison without parole for crimes other than murder. About 100 prisoners face this situation in the US.
The court also will be asked to decide whether the immunity of former Somali prime minister Mohammed Ali Samatar can be lifted to allow him to be pursued for alleged torture and murders committed in the 1980s.
LESSONS THAT THE LOTTERY VERDICT DIDN'T TEACH US
Collective responsibility of the Cabinet did not feature in court ruling on controversial scheme The Supreme Court this past week gave another good political lecture, or so it looked. The grounds for ruling that the Thaksin Shinawatra government's "on-land" lottery scheme was wrongly conceived, approved and implemented seemed solid. This was no "charity lottery" as claimed by the defendants, the court said, because a charity lottery was supposed to be temporary, with its own unique rules on tax-waiver and how the income generated from the sales was spent.
The ruling, however, did not tackle the issue of joint accountability, as most members of the former Cabinet were acquitted by the court. The verdict found one minister and two senior officials guilty and gave them suspended two-year jail terms. This has raised many eyebrows, as the Cabinet resolution approving the scheme had been thought to be the joint responsibility of the entire Cabinet.
The court pointed out that the scheme had been rushed through the Cabinet under the guise of an "extraordinary item on the agenda". This is a common term not just in politics. Every boardroom has special items on its agenda, but few, if any, must have a rule that says board members are immune from the consequences of decisions made on such urgent issues.
There are two ways to look at it. One is that the court has shown sympathy toward "innocent" or helpless Cabinet members after establishing that Thaksin collaborated with the three convicted defendants to ram the lottery scheme through a Cabinet session. That was reportedly how the Thaksin cabinets worked on certain issues - the boss would say what he liked and the rest would follow his will.
But should there have been a proper time to teach Thai political officeholders about responsibility and accountability, this was it. All Cabinet members are constitutionally entrusted to exercise their judgement on every single item on the agenda. We have heard about "heated debates" on less controversial issues, which were subsequently delayed or suspended, or put through several special committees, and it was amazing to learn that this particular Thaksin Cabinet let the questionable lottery scheme through without anyone trying to put a brake on it.
Concern that the on-land lottery would be nothing but a vice-promoting tool should have been enough to make a Cabinet member or two stand up and say, "Hold on". Sadly, we have seen such valiant acts only when two coalition parties disagree over certain lucrative projects. Sincere protests caused by honest concern for national interests are hard to come by at Cabinet meetings.
Make no mistake. Whether the on-land lottery scheme was good or bad is debatable. And there were times during its implementation when underground lottery rackets were said to be really reeling. Money generated from sales was used for educational subsidy, although critics claimed the "populist" purpose was not worth introducing a project that could lure more Thais into gambling.
Without an on-land lottery, people would continue indulging themselves in the underground lottery anyway. Should those people have been brought "on-land" and their money taken to "noble" causes like school or university scholarships? On the other hand, was our state so desperate that it had to fund scholarships through vice money? Couldn't the money be found elsewhere without risking the impression that more public gambling was fine as long as the state played the role of bookie itself?
These, of course, were among the questions that the Thaksin Cabinet in question should have collectively thought thoroughly about. It is unbelievable that only four persons were responsible for pushing such a controversial scheme through. We are not that surprised to learn that many crucial decisions that were supposed to have come through Cabinet scrutiny were in fact made by just a few men - but that we're not shocked doesn't mean we shouldn't be scared.
The ones who are supposed to be scared of consequences of autocratic Cabinet meetings are the Cabinet members themselves. To get away with being silent when they should have made a noise may not be a travesty of justice. It may not be a crime to helplessly watch a crime. But can this argument really be applied in favour of the Cabinet members who were let off the hook?
The Supreme Court's ruling on the lottery case may provide a good lesson for future prime ministers or ministers advocating key projects, but nothing has been taught when collective responsibility is concerned.
Checks and balances should begin at home. In other words, it is the Cabinet members' foremost duty to screen all projects with only national interests on their minds. They are supposed to do that before the media, the opposition, the Senate or any critic. Amid all the debatable questions regarding the Cabinet members who were found not guilty, one thing is certain: they failed to fulfil that duty.
The ruling, however, did not tackle the issue of joint accountability, as most members of the former Cabinet were acquitted by the court. The verdict found one minister and two senior officials guilty and gave them suspended two-year jail terms. This has raised many eyebrows, as the Cabinet resolution approving the scheme had been thought to be the joint responsibility of the entire Cabinet.
The court pointed out that the scheme had been rushed through the Cabinet under the guise of an "extraordinary item on the agenda". This is a common term not just in politics. Every boardroom has special items on its agenda, but few, if any, must have a rule that says board members are immune from the consequences of decisions made on such urgent issues.
There are two ways to look at it. One is that the court has shown sympathy toward "innocent" or helpless Cabinet members after establishing that Thaksin collaborated with the three convicted defendants to ram the lottery scheme through a Cabinet session. That was reportedly how the Thaksin cabinets worked on certain issues - the boss would say what he liked and the rest would follow his will.
But should there have been a proper time to teach Thai political officeholders about responsibility and accountability, this was it. All Cabinet members are constitutionally entrusted to exercise their judgement on every single item on the agenda. We have heard about "heated debates" on less controversial issues, which were subsequently delayed or suspended, or put through several special committees, and it was amazing to learn that this particular Thaksin Cabinet let the questionable lottery scheme through without anyone trying to put a brake on it.
Concern that the on-land lottery would be nothing but a vice-promoting tool should have been enough to make a Cabinet member or two stand up and say, "Hold on". Sadly, we have seen such valiant acts only when two coalition parties disagree over certain lucrative projects. Sincere protests caused by honest concern for national interests are hard to come by at Cabinet meetings.
Make no mistake. Whether the on-land lottery scheme was good or bad is debatable. And there were times during its implementation when underground lottery rackets were said to be really reeling. Money generated from sales was used for educational subsidy, although critics claimed the "populist" purpose was not worth introducing a project that could lure more Thais into gambling.
Without an on-land lottery, people would continue indulging themselves in the underground lottery anyway. Should those people have been brought "on-land" and their money taken to "noble" causes like school or university scholarships? On the other hand, was our state so desperate that it had to fund scholarships through vice money? Couldn't the money be found elsewhere without risking the impression that more public gambling was fine as long as the state played the role of bookie itself?
These, of course, were among the questions that the Thaksin Cabinet in question should have collectively thought thoroughly about. It is unbelievable that only four persons were responsible for pushing such a controversial scheme through. We are not that surprised to learn that many crucial decisions that were supposed to have come through Cabinet scrutiny were in fact made by just a few men - but that we're not shocked doesn't mean we shouldn't be scared.
The ones who are supposed to be scared of consequences of autocratic Cabinet meetings are the Cabinet members themselves. To get away with being silent when they should have made a noise may not be a travesty of justice. It may not be a crime to helplessly watch a crime. But can this argument really be applied in favour of the Cabinet members who were let off the hook?
The Supreme Court's ruling on the lottery case may provide a good lesson for future prime ministers or ministers advocating key projects, but nothing has been taught when collective responsibility is concerned.
Checks and balances should begin at home. In other words, it is the Cabinet members' foremost duty to screen all projects with only national interests on their minds. They are supposed to do that before the media, the opposition, the Senate or any critic. Amid all the debatable questions regarding the Cabinet members who were found not guilty, one thing is certain: they failed to fulfil that duty.
PAKISTAN COURT PUTS OFF TERROR TRIAL ONCE MORE
A Pakistani court yesterday adjourned for a second time a hearing for seven suspects accused by India of plotting the deadly Mumbai attacks last year, a lawyer said. Ne Delhi has been pressuring Islamabad to speed up the probe of Pakistani militants believed to be behind the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.
India and Washington blamed the attacks on Pakistan's banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the siege stalled a fragile four-year peace process between the two nuclear-armed South Asian rivals.
"The hearing has been adjourned until the 10th of October," said Shahbaz Rajput, a defence lawyer representing two of the suspects.
Because the proceedings at an anti-terrorism court are going on behind closed doors, Rajput said the could not disclose the reason for the second postponement, or give any details of the case. The seven accused were present at yesterday's proceedings. The hearing had originally been scheduled to begin on July 25, but was postponed then as the judge was on leave.
India and Washington blamed the attacks on Pakistan's banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the siege stalled a fragile four-year peace process between the two nuclear-armed South Asian rivals.
"The hearing has been adjourned until the 10th of October," said Shahbaz Rajput, a defence lawyer representing two of the suspects.
Because the proceedings at an anti-terrorism court are going on behind closed doors, Rajput said the could not disclose the reason for the second postponement, or give any details of the case. The seven accused were present at yesterday's proceedings. The hearing had originally been scheduled to begin on July 25, but was postponed then as the judge was on leave.
Clashes of interest new NACC priority
About 100,000 state officials will be subject to close scrutiny for possible conflicts of interest under a legal change backed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
Graft-buster Wichai Wiwitsewi said yesterday armed forces leaders, university rectors and state enterprise board members are likely to join the prime minister and members of the cabinet defined as "state officials" under transparency provisions of the anti-corruption legislation.
The NACC wants to update a list of state officials under Article 100 who are barred from having interests in contracts made with state agencies which they have the authority to control, oversee or regulate. They may have to make annual declarations of assets they own, and could be subject to other reporting requirements.
When the law was introduced in 1999,the provision did not specify the "state officials" who were subject to examination for conflict of interest.
The positions of prime minister and cabinet members and their spouses were added later.
The guilty verdict against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in the Ratchadaphisek land purchase scheme was partly based on the provision. In October 2008, Thaksin was convicted
by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions of abusing his power while he was prime minister to help his wife's purchase of the Ratchadaphisek land at a discount in 2006.
Mr Wichai said the positions to be added to the list were proposed during a series of NACC seminars.
"About 80-90%[of people surveyed]want the list to include executive positions at government agencies. These positions will be screened again and the list could be put in effect next year.
"It will give the NACC a tool to better tackle conflict of interest," he said.
It would be impossible to have all state officials come under Article 100.
"But it helps to be specific [about what constitutes a conflict of interest and if it is against the law] because in some cases a conflict of interest does not involve corruption," he said.
Democrat Party deputy spokesman Thirachart Pangwirunrak said yesterday government officials in executive posts such as permanent secretaries, directorsgeneral and provincial governors should be scrutinised.
Investigations by House committees found that some members serve on state enterprise and private company boards and make millions of baht in monthly salaries and allowances.
"There is this case in which a deputy governor of a state enterprise has shares in a company which is the agency's contract partner. Article 100 doesn't cover such a case," he said.
He also welcomed the prospect of politicians being scrutinised for possible conflict of interest.
Preecha Suwannathat, former writer of the NACC Act, yesterday backed the proposed extension of the list, saying even judges and graft-fighters should be covered by the provision.
He also suggested that corruptiontainted agencies should be listed.
Dr Tul Sitthisomwong, of the Civil Network, said the extension of the state officials list would give the NACC more power to fight corruption.
The NACC says a total of 3,657 corruption cases are pending its investigation.
Graft-buster Wichai Wiwitsewi said yesterday armed forces leaders, university rectors and state enterprise board members are likely to join the prime minister and members of the cabinet defined as "state officials" under transparency provisions of the anti-corruption legislation.
The NACC wants to update a list of state officials under Article 100 who are barred from having interests in contracts made with state agencies which they have the authority to control, oversee or regulate. They may have to make annual declarations of assets they own, and could be subject to other reporting requirements.
When the law was introduced in 1999,the provision did not specify the "state officials" who were subject to examination for conflict of interest.
The positions of prime minister and cabinet members and their spouses were added later.
The guilty verdict against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in the Ratchadaphisek land purchase scheme was partly based on the provision. In October 2008, Thaksin was convicted
by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions of abusing his power while he was prime minister to help his wife's purchase of the Ratchadaphisek land at a discount in 2006.
Mr Wichai said the positions to be added to the list were proposed during a series of NACC seminars.
"About 80-90%[of people surveyed]want the list to include executive positions at government agencies. These positions will be screened again and the list could be put in effect next year.
"It will give the NACC a tool to better tackle conflict of interest," he said.
It would be impossible to have all state officials come under Article 100.
"But it helps to be specific [about what constitutes a conflict of interest and if it is against the law] because in some cases a conflict of interest does not involve corruption," he said.
Democrat Party deputy spokesman Thirachart Pangwirunrak said yesterday government officials in executive posts such as permanent secretaries, directorsgeneral and provincial governors should be scrutinised.
Investigations by House committees found that some members serve on state enterprise and private company boards and make millions of baht in monthly salaries and allowances.
"There is this case in which a deputy governor of a state enterprise has shares in a company which is the agency's contract partner. Article 100 doesn't cover such a case," he said.
He also welcomed the prospect of politicians being scrutinised for possible conflict of interest.
Preecha Suwannathat, former writer of the NACC Act, yesterday backed the proposed extension of the list, saying even judges and graft-fighters should be covered by the provision.
He also suggested that corruptiontainted agencies should be listed.
Dr Tul Sitthisomwong, of the Civil Network, said the extension of the state officials list would give the NACC more power to fight corruption.
The NACC says a total of 3,657 corruption cases are pending its investigation.
Highest court moves out of upper house
British constitutional history was made on Thursday as judges in a new Supreme Court were sworn in,replacing the House of Lords as Britain's highest appeal tribunal.
Ending a centuries-old judicial quirk,11 new justices took their oaths of office in the new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, housed in a gothic building just across from the Houses of Parliament.
Although largely symbolic, the move - which will also see cameras allowed into court for the first time - should make the administration of justice more transparent, politicians and judges say.
"This is important. It emphasises the independence of the judiciary, clearly separating those who make the law from those who administer it," said Lord Nicholas Phillips, president of the new court.
"As Justices of the Supreme Court,we will be more visible to the public than we ever were when sitting as members of the House of Lords."
Since 1876, the role of final court of appeal for England, Wales and Northern Ireland has been performed by the Law Lords, a House of Lords committee made up of top judges.
Before then, it was the job of ordinary peers who contemporary commentators said were often unfamiliar with the law - and keener on drinking at gentlemen's clubs than hearing complex cases.
Although the Law Lords' independence was not in question, in recent years ministers and many top lawyers came to believe that separating the judiciary, parliament and the executive was important for the sake of clarity.
The new Supreme Court Justices are in fact the same men who had until now been called Law Lords - minus their wigs.
Ending a centuries-old judicial quirk,11 new justices took their oaths of office in the new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, housed in a gothic building just across from the Houses of Parliament.
Although largely symbolic, the move - which will also see cameras allowed into court for the first time - should make the administration of justice more transparent, politicians and judges say.
"This is important. It emphasises the independence of the judiciary, clearly separating those who make the law from those who administer it," said Lord Nicholas Phillips, president of the new court.
"As Justices of the Supreme Court,we will be more visible to the public than we ever were when sitting as members of the House of Lords."
Since 1876, the role of final court of appeal for England, Wales and Northern Ireland has been performed by the Law Lords, a House of Lords committee made up of top judges.
Before then, it was the job of ordinary peers who contemporary commentators said were often unfamiliar with the law - and keener on drinking at gentlemen's clubs than hearing complex cases.
Although the Law Lords' independence was not in question, in recent years ministers and many top lawyers came to believe that separating the judiciary, parliament and the executive was important for the sake of clarity.
The new Supreme Court Justices are in fact the same men who had until now been called Law Lords - minus their wigs.
Chavalit returns to political fray, joins Puea Thai Party
Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has officially resumed his political career, joining the opposition Puea Thai Party and putting forward a plan to restore national unity.
Speaking after registering as a Puea Thai member yesterday, Gen Chavalit said he was driven by an urge to end "unprecedented" social divisions.
He said that it was not him who chose to resume his political activities with the Puea Thai Party. The decision was made by the public at large.
"I did not do the choosing. I asked around - most people like the poor,the farmers, the workers, police, soldiers and those in the deep South. They want me to be here," he said.
He said that at this stage he was a plain party member and was willing to work with other members in making Puea Thai a "political party for the masses".
Gen Chavalit was approached to become the party's chief adviser.
The former prime minister said a dialogue would be the best approach to end political conflicts and divisions.
Gen Chavalit laughed and said he was not in a hurry when asked if he was ready to become prime minister.
He also played down the pending charges against him for his alleged involvement in the Oct 7 crackdown last year, saying he would fight the charges through all available channels.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission recently resolved to file charges against him over the police crackdown on People's Alliance for Democracy demonstrators on Oct 7,2008. Gen Chavalit was deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs at the time.
Gen Chavalit, accompanied by 20 supporters, was greeted with a warm welcome and given a Puea Thai Party jacket by Puea Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit after completing his paperwork.
Among his supporters was Gen Panlop Pinmanee, former deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command, who said yesterday he was ready to bury the hatchet with Gen Chavalit.
"Our conflict was strictly about work.I still respect him and now we share the same ideology," said Gen Panlop who was transferred by Gen Chavalit over the Krue Se massacre in April 2004.
He said the teaming-up of Gen Chavalit, Gen Orapan Wattanawibul, Gen Wattana Sanpanich and Lt Gen Pirat Sawamiwat would be a formidable force.
"Old soldiers never die and they are ready to work for the country," he said.
Lt Gen Pirat said yesterday that the Puea Thai Party had leadership problems which he believed would be resolved in a a few months.
Speaking after registering as a Puea Thai member yesterday, Gen Chavalit said he was driven by an urge to end "unprecedented" social divisions.
He said that it was not him who chose to resume his political activities with the Puea Thai Party. The decision was made by the public at large.
"I did not do the choosing. I asked around - most people like the poor,the farmers, the workers, police, soldiers and those in the deep South. They want me to be here," he said.
He said that at this stage he was a plain party member and was willing to work with other members in making Puea Thai a "political party for the masses".
Gen Chavalit was approached to become the party's chief adviser.
The former prime minister said a dialogue would be the best approach to end political conflicts and divisions.
Gen Chavalit laughed and said he was not in a hurry when asked if he was ready to become prime minister.
He also played down the pending charges against him for his alleged involvement in the Oct 7 crackdown last year, saying he would fight the charges through all available channels.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission recently resolved to file charges against him over the police crackdown on People's Alliance for Democracy demonstrators on Oct 7,2008. Gen Chavalit was deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs at the time.
Gen Chavalit, accompanied by 20 supporters, was greeted with a warm welcome and given a Puea Thai Party jacket by Puea Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit after completing his paperwork.
Among his supporters was Gen Panlop Pinmanee, former deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command, who said yesterday he was ready to bury the hatchet with Gen Chavalit.
"Our conflict was strictly about work.I still respect him and now we share the same ideology," said Gen Panlop who was transferred by Gen Chavalit over the Krue Se massacre in April 2004.
He said the teaming-up of Gen Chavalit, Gen Orapan Wattanawibul, Gen Wattana Sanpanich and Lt Gen Pirat Sawamiwat would be a formidable force.
"Old soldiers never die and they are ready to work for the country," he said.
Lt Gen Pirat said yesterday that the Puea Thai Party had leadership problems which he believed would be resolved in a a few months.
Ex-cop sues graft fighters
The Criminal Court has accepted a lawsuit filed against five members of the National Counter Corruption Commission by a former city police commander who was sacked in connection with a brawl between protesters at CentralWorld three years ago.
Pol Col Thanayut Wutthicharasthamrong's lawyer filed a malfeasance in office suit against Vicha Mahakul, Tortrakul Yomnak, Pol Maj-Gen Naphan Yensudjai, Kosol Khamsiri and Natthawut Khomprasert, a source said.
They were members of the inquiry panel which looked into the officer's role in an incident at Bangkok's CentralWorld shopping mall on Aug 21,2006.
The panel, chaired by Mr Vicha, found Pol Col Thanayut, formerly Pol Col Ritthirong Thepchanda, had committed criminal and disciplinary breaches by failing to intervene in a brawl between opponents and supporters of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra at CentralWorld. The officer was dismissed from the police force.
He later brought his case before the Chiang Mai Administrative Court, which this week ruled that he be reinstated.
In his suit filed with the Criminal Court on Sept 21,the officer accused the five inquiry panel members of committing malfeasance as defined by criminal and anticorruption laws.
Pol Col Thanayut said in the suit that the panel's inquiry did not deliver him justice.The court has scheduled the first hearing for Dec 14.
The NCCC was transformed into the National Anti-Corruption Commission in 2008.
Pol Col Thanayut Wutthicharasthamrong's lawyer filed a malfeasance in office suit against Vicha Mahakul, Tortrakul Yomnak, Pol Maj-Gen Naphan Yensudjai, Kosol Khamsiri and Natthawut Khomprasert, a source said.
They were members of the inquiry panel which looked into the officer's role in an incident at Bangkok's CentralWorld shopping mall on Aug 21,2006.
The panel, chaired by Mr Vicha, found Pol Col Thanayut, formerly Pol Col Ritthirong Thepchanda, had committed criminal and disciplinary breaches by failing to intervene in a brawl between opponents and supporters of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra at CentralWorld. The officer was dismissed from the police force.
He later brought his case before the Chiang Mai Administrative Court, which this week ruled that he be reinstated.
In his suit filed with the Criminal Court on Sept 21,the officer accused the five inquiry panel members of committing malfeasance as defined by criminal and anticorruption laws.
Pol Col Thanayut said in the suit that the panel's inquiry did not deliver him justice.The court has scheduled the first hearing for Dec 14.
The NCCC was transformed into the National Anti-Corruption Commission in 2008.
SONDHI GETS SIX MONTHS FOR LIBEL
Sondhi Limthongkul, a leader of the yellow-shirt movement, suffered another legal blow yesterday when the Criminal Court sentenced him to six months in jail in a libel suit filed by former foreign minister Noppadon Patama.
It was the third conviction for the outspoken media mogul in less than a month.
Sondhi, co-leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, was found guilty of defaming Noppadon when he accused the former foreign minister of betraying the royal family by working as lawyer for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The court ruled that Sondhi's remark against Noppadon - recipient of a royally-sponsored scholarship - that he was even less grateful than His Majesty the King's dog, Khun Tongdaeng, was defamatory.
"The plaintiff has his basic rights to work as a lawyer for any person," said the ruling.
The court also ordered Sondhi's companies Thai Day Dot Com and Manager Media Group to pay a fine of Bt20,000 each for broadcasting his libellous remarks and distributing CDs containing video files of the programme containing the remarks.
Sondhi was released on a bail of Bt100,000. He had appealed the two previous libel cases that he lost early last month.
An appeals court last month reduced to six months the two-year jail term that Sondhi was given by a lower court in March 2008 for defaming former deputy transport minister Phumtham Wechayachai. The Criminal Court also sentenced Sondhi to two years in jail for defaming former central bank governor MR Pridiyathorn Devakula.
On hearing the sentence, Noppadon said he was "glad I received justice," the Agence France-Presse reported. "From now on, Sondhi must realise that he cannot go on making false claims against anyone in this country without being punished," he said.
Sondhi yesterday said he would accept leadership of the PAD's New Politics Party if the group's followers support him to take the post. "I am ready to do the job," he said.
The party, which now has Somsak Kosaisuk as its acting leader, is expected to hold a general meeting on Tuesday.
It was the third conviction for the outspoken media mogul in less than a month.
Sondhi, co-leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, was found guilty of defaming Noppadon when he accused the former foreign minister of betraying the royal family by working as lawyer for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The court ruled that Sondhi's remark against Noppadon - recipient of a royally-sponsored scholarship - that he was even less grateful than His Majesty the King's dog, Khun Tongdaeng, was defamatory.
"The plaintiff has his basic rights to work as a lawyer for any person," said the ruling.
The court also ordered Sondhi's companies Thai Day Dot Com and Manager Media Group to pay a fine of Bt20,000 each for broadcasting his libellous remarks and distributing CDs containing video files of the programme containing the remarks.
Sondhi was released on a bail of Bt100,000. He had appealed the two previous libel cases that he lost early last month.
An appeals court last month reduced to six months the two-year jail term that Sondhi was given by a lower court in March 2008 for defaming former deputy transport minister Phumtham Wechayachai. The Criminal Court also sentenced Sondhi to two years in jail for defaming former central bank governor MR Pridiyathorn Devakula.
On hearing the sentence, Noppadon said he was "glad I received justice," the Agence France-Presse reported. "From now on, Sondhi must realise that he cannot go on making false claims against anyone in this country without being punished," he said.
Sondhi yesterday said he would accept leadership of the PAD's New Politics Party if the group's followers support him to take the post. "I am ready to do the job," he said.
The party, which now has Somsak Kosaisuk as its acting leader, is expected to hold a general meeting on Tuesday.
Govt appeals Map Ta Phut ruling
The Office of the AttorneyGeneral yesterday filed an appeal against the Central Administrative Court's injunction on 76 industrial projects in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate.
Authorities hope the appeal will communicate to investors their sincerity in facilitating investment.
The appeal was filed with the Supreme Administrative Court and sought a reversal of the lower court's injunction.
Prasartchai Tontapanish, directorgeneral of the OAG's Administrative Litigation Department, said the government had no legal obligation to suspend the projects, because under the Constitution it made the rules.
He insisted government agencies had done their best to ensure fairness to all and said it was always possible that their actions might run counter to public opinion.
Regarding nongovernmental organisations' accusations of a "lack of humanity" on the part of the administration, Prasartchai said that was their opinion and that if the clash escalated, legal amendments would be the answer.
The filing was made in collaboration with the Industry Ministry, which had earlier planned to file the appeal this coming Monday. The ministry changed its mind for fear of clashing with protesters.
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij yesterday said during a recent meeting with investors from the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg that investment in Map Ta Phut neither violated the Constitution nor caused a serious environmental impact.
"A definition of 'serious impact' must be formulated, so that investment can resume," he said.
Former deputy prime minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula said the court case served as a lesson to the government after the problem had been ignored by previous administrations.
He said if the conflict could be solved, investor confidence would be restored. Even though this could take some time, it is only natural that a longneglected problem is not solved within a short period.
Authorities hope the appeal will communicate to investors their sincerity in facilitating investment.
The appeal was filed with the Supreme Administrative Court and sought a reversal of the lower court's injunction.
Prasartchai Tontapanish, directorgeneral of the OAG's Administrative Litigation Department, said the government had no legal obligation to suspend the projects, because under the Constitution it made the rules.
He insisted government agencies had done their best to ensure fairness to all and said it was always possible that their actions might run counter to public opinion.
Regarding nongovernmental organisations' accusations of a "lack of humanity" on the part of the administration, Prasartchai said that was their opinion and that if the clash escalated, legal amendments would be the answer.
The filing was made in collaboration with the Industry Ministry, which had earlier planned to file the appeal this coming Monday. The ministry changed its mind for fear of clashing with protesters.
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij yesterday said during a recent meeting with investors from the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg that investment in Map Ta Phut neither violated the Constitution nor caused a serious environmental impact.
"A definition of 'serious impact' must be formulated, so that investment can resume," he said.
Former deputy prime minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula said the court case served as a lesson to the government after the problem had been ignored by previous administrations.
He said if the conflict could be solved, investor confidence would be restored. Even though this could take some time, it is only natural that a longneglected problem is not solved within a short period.
SUU KYI'S APPEAL AGAINST CONVICTION REJECTED
A Burmese court yesterday rejected an appeal by prodemocracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi against her extended house arrest, just days after the US reengaged with the country's ruling junta.
Judges at a divisional court in Rangoon upheld the Nobel Laureate's conviction, her lawyer said, over an indicent in which an American man swam uninvited to her home, earning her an extra 18 months in detention.
"The appeal was rejected but we will take it to the high court," said Suu Kyi's lawyer and the spokesman for the National League for Democracy party, Nyan Win, after the hearing.
Asked whether he was disappointed, the lawyer said Suu Kyi might have a better chance at Burma's high court.
He said the defence team was seeking permission from the authorities to visit the frail 64-year-old as soon as possible, to inform her of the ruling and discuss a further appeal, which must be filed within the next 60 days. Suu Kyi - who has spent much of the last 20 years in detention - was not present for the verdict, which was delivered amid tight security with uniformed and plain-clothes policemen patrolling the area.
Her extender house arrest will keep he off the scene for elections promised by the regime for 2010, adding to widespread criticism that the polls are a sham designed to legitimise the junta's grip on power.
John Yettaw, an eccentric American who striggered the debacle by swimming to Suu Kyi's lakeside mansion in May, was sentenced to seven years' hard labour in August, but the regime freed him after a visit by US Senator Jim Webb.
Meanwhile, China and other allies of the junta have joined an international call for the release of Suu Kyi.
The UN Human Rights Council's 47 members unani-mously adopted a resolution yesterday in Geneva to demand that Burma release all political prisoners and allow them to take part in next year's elections.
Judges at a divisional court in Rangoon upheld the Nobel Laureate's conviction, her lawyer said, over an indicent in which an American man swam uninvited to her home, earning her an extra 18 months in detention.
"The appeal was rejected but we will take it to the high court," said Suu Kyi's lawyer and the spokesman for the National League for Democracy party, Nyan Win, after the hearing.
Asked whether he was disappointed, the lawyer said Suu Kyi might have a better chance at Burma's high court.
He said the defence team was seeking permission from the authorities to visit the frail 64-year-old as soon as possible, to inform her of the ruling and discuss a further appeal, which must be filed within the next 60 days. Suu Kyi - who has spent much of the last 20 years in detention - was not present for the verdict, which was delivered amid tight security with uniformed and plain-clothes policemen patrolling the area.
Her extender house arrest will keep he off the scene for elections promised by the regime for 2010, adding to widespread criticism that the polls are a sham designed to legitimise the junta's grip on power.
John Yettaw, an eccentric American who striggered the debacle by swimming to Suu Kyi's lakeside mansion in May, was sentenced to seven years' hard labour in August, but the regime freed him after a visit by US Senator Jim Webb.
Meanwhile, China and other allies of the junta have joined an international call for the release of Suu Kyi.
The UN Human Rights Council's 47 members unani-mously adopted a resolution yesterday in Geneva to demand that Burma release all political prisoners and allow them to take part in next year's elections.
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