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Published on December 26, 2007

Publisher and leading anti-Thaksin Shinawatra campaigner Sondhi Limthongkul was yesterday sentenced to three years jail for libelling the deposed premier.

Sondhi was released on bail to appeal the sentence.

Khunthong Lorseriwanich, publisher of the Thai-language newspaper Phujadkan, was sentenced to two years in jail for publishing Sondhi's comments and fined Bt40,000. His jail term was suspended for two years as he had not committed a serious crime before.

Sondhi was found guilty by the Criminal Court for making baseless allegations against the former prime minister during rallies in March last year.

The court ruled Sondhi had made comments about Thaksin but had not attempted to prove they were true. This had caused widespread confusion among the public.

The court said Sondhi did not follow any constitutional rules in building social sentiment to overthrow Thaksin. His campaign had seriously affected social cohesion, leading to a rift between rival supporters.

When Sondhi started the campaign "Fight for His Majesty the King", dressed in a yellow shirt - the colour which represents His Majesty - he tried to present Thaksin and his supporters as opponents of the monarchy, the court said.

It said Sondhi had exploited the campaign to portray himself and his supporters as close to the monarchy, for which all Thais have great respect.

It tried to divide people into those who respect the monarchy and those who were against it, and this was a serious threat to national security. Sondhi attempted to manipulate the monarchy as a tool to overthrow Thaksin, the court said.

Therefore it had to sentence Sondhi to three years in jail, effective immediately.

Shortly after the verdict, Sondhi was released on bail and vowed to appeal, insisting his controversial campaign had been launched for the benefit of the people.

Sondhi led protests against the Thaksin government until the military junta ousted the administration last year.

He had earlier been sentenced to a two-year jail term for defamation for charging Thaksin's adviser Phumtham Vejchayachai with being a communist. He has appealed the sentence.

The Nation