Rights body seminar warns Tesco Lotus over libel suits

Narong Chokewattana, a member of the Board of Trade, told the seminar that it was unwise for the UK-based firm to have recently filed libel lawsuits demanding a combined Bt1.2 billion against its critics, including two Thai newspaper columnists.

Nongnart Harnvilai, a senior editor of Thai-language business daily Krungthep Thurakij, is facing a Bt100-million suit over a column she wrote, questioning whether Tesco Lotus "loved" Thailand because it was planning to expand with 130 new outlets without caring about whether mom-and-pop stores could compete against the chain.

Two more libel suits were lodged against Kamol Kamoltrakul, another Krungthep Thurakij columnist, and Jit Siratranont, a former MP and now deputy secretary-general of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, seeking damages of Bt100 million and Bt1 billion, respectively.

Narong believes that Tesco Lotus's image will suffer in the end because of its legal actions against critics.

Saree Ongsomwang of the Foundation for Consumers said communities had the right to voice criticism against retail giants as mom-and-pop stores have suffered from their unrelenting expansion.

Suthichai Yoon, editor in chief of Nation Multimedia Group, told the seminar that Tesco Lotus's recent libel suits could be seen as a "classic" case study on multinational firms' ethical conduct as far as public sentiment and social responsibility are concerned.

Suthichai said the public and mass media had the right to express their opinion in good faith. As a result, these critics, wanting to protect a minority in society (the traditional trade), should not face such intimidation.

The Campaign Committee for Human Rights also issued a strongly worded statement criticising Tesco Lotus and urging the public to boycott its business.