Deputy PM files more complaints
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Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung announced yesterday that he had filed police complaints against three Democrat MPs and two more daily newspapers for saying that he looked drunk during the parliamentary debate last Friday.
Chalerm said his lawyer had filed a complaint on Monday accusing MPs Rangsima Rodrasami, Theptai Senapong and Boonyod Sukthinthai, as well as Krungthep Turakij and Kom Chad Luek newspapers, of libel.
This was in addition to an earlier police complaint Chalerm filed on Sunday against Thai Post, Thai Rath, Siam Rath and Naew Na accusing them of libel for reporting him as being drunk in Parliament.
Chalerm said he had initially held off filing a complaint against Rangsima because parliamentary immunity protected her when she first accused him of being drunk during the debate on Friday. However, he later decided to take legal action after she repeated her allegations outside Parliament.
He added that he had decided to take legal action against Theptai and Boonyod because they had called a news conference especially to link him to the discovery of several empty bottles of alcohol that had been found in the trash in Parliament.
Chalerm went on to claim that his action was not meant as a threat to the opposition or media. “I just want to protect my rights.”
He added that he had a medical report from a Bangkok hospital showing that he suffered from an inner-ear infection and that it made him stagger occasionally.
“I stagger sometimes, but not everyone who walks unsteadily is drunk. Also, not all red-faced people are drunk,” he said.
Rangsima had said that with her nursing background, she could tell who was drunk.
In addition, Chalerm yesterday challenged opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to conduct an alcohol test on him tomorrow. “They will have to prove their accusations. If they can’t, I will take legal action against them.”
Chalerm also denied that alcoholic drinks had been consumed inside the Parliament building.
