Thailand: Chutima Sidasathian On Trial For Criminal Defamation
Women Press Freedom deeply concerned by frequent misuse of defamation laws in Thailand to stifle press freedom
Location: Thailand
Date: February 6, 2024Update: March 6, 2024
A decade after being acquitted of defamation charges linked to her reporting on human trafficking, Chutima Sidasathian is yet again on trial for criminal defamation — this time for her 2021 exposé on a corrupt lending scheme involving state officials. Defamation is a criminal offense in Thailand, and Sidasathian faces years behind bars if convicted. Sidasathian was acquitted of three counts of defamation in March 2024 but still faces six criminal defamation charges. The decision to prosecute Sidasathian is deeply troubling and indicative of broader issues surrounding press freedom in Thailand. The misuse of defamation laws to silence journalists, human rights defenders, and whistleblowers undermines fundamental democratic principles and stifles meaningful public discourse. Women Press Freedom urges the court to dismiss all charges against Chutima Sidasathian. We call on the government to decriminalize defamation and ensure new legislation aligns with international standards. The press should not be criminalized for holding power to account. Journalism is not a crime.
“I am hoping that with my second time as a ‘criminal,’ I can conclusively demonstrate the injustice of Thailand’s criminal defamation laws. Those laws should be repealed,” says Chutima Sidasathian, a journalist renowned for her investigative reporting, who finds herself once again at the center of a legal battle for her work in a Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) suit.
In 2021, Sidasathian investigated troubling events in Nakhon Ratchasima province, where a bank took legal action against residents of several villages to recoup loans many villagers denied receiving. As a result of lawsuits brought by the bank, some villagers reportedly took their own lives, while others faced severe financial hardship. Sidasathian's probe into the bank's affairs unearthed disturbing allegations of malpractice and corruption implicating bank officials and public figures, including the mayor of Banlang sub-district.
Rather than addressing these grave accusations, the district mayor opted to retaliate by filing a defamation suit against Sidasathian. In December 2022, she was summoned to court, where she faced three defamation charges, each punishable by up to two years in prison.
“I am hoping that with my second time as a ‘criminal,’ I can conclusively demonstrate the injustice of Thailand’s criminal defamation laws. Those laws should be repealed”
Meanwhile, the mayor is confronting criminal charges of misappropriation of funds, stemming from the allegations made by Sidasathian in her reporting.
“Speaking out got me sued,” Sidasathian tells Media Defence who are supporting the journalist’s legal defense in the case. “All because of some honest Facebook posts that simply clarified what was happening.”
On March 6, 2024, the Nakhon Ratchasima court acquitted Sidasathian of three criminal defamation charges related to her investigation. The journalist welcomed the decision on Twitter while reiterating to her followers that she still faces six other defamation charges.
Repeated Targeting of Sidasathian
“Speaking out got me sued”
This marks the second occasion Sidasathian has been accused of slander. In 2015, Sidasathian was charged with defamation under Thailand’s Computer Crime Act, alongside her editor at Phuketwan, Alan Morison. They were prosecuted for their reporting on alleged corruption within the Thai Navy. The journalists were rightly acquitted of all charges.
Both cases against Sidasathian are emblematic of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), a tactic utilized to stifle free speech and intimidate critics. Sidasathian is not alone in facing such threats; journalists across Thailand are frequently subjected to similar legal maneuvers aimed at silencing their voices. Thailand's ranking of 106/180 in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders reflects the pervasive use of defamation laws to harass and intimidate journalists.
Sidasathian's case underscores the urgent need for legal reform in Thailand. Criminal defamation laws should be repealed to protect journalists, activists, and citizens advocating for the public interest. Civil defamation laws can still safeguard against reputational damage without stifling free speech.
Women Press Freedom stands in solidarity with Sidasathian and condemns the misuse of defamation laws to suppress investigative journalism. Sidasathian's case serves as a rallying cry for legal reform in Thailand, emphasizing the necessity to repeal criminal defamation laws and enact stronger protections for journalists, activists, and citizens advocating for the public interest. While we welcome the court’s decision to dismiss three counts of defamation against Sidasathian, we implore the court to acquit her of all criminal charges.
Women Press Freedom will continue to monitor Sidasathian’s legal battles.
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