Yingluck sues Thai Rath cartoonist for defamation

The lawyers filed the complaint against the cartoonist at Dusit police station on Friday afternoon.

Chai, whose real name is Somchai Katanyutanan, posted photos of Yingluck in Mongolia and at a Thai parliamentary meeting and posted the message:
“Please understand that prostitutes are not bad women. Prostitutes only sell their bodies, but a bad woman has been wandering around trying to sell the country.”

During her speech at the 7th Ministerial Conference on the International Democracies, Yingluck denounced the 2006 coup and attacked Thailand’s independent organisations. She also talked about the suffering her family, the government of her brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, as well as slain red shirts had to endure following the coup and political violence in the country.

PM’s Secretary General Suranan Vejjajiva said that while Yingluck was ready to listen to criticism, critics should be careful not to use inappropriate wording.

Suranan said the cartoonist not only insulted the prime minister but through his action was also looking down on women.

Pheu Thai Party female MPs led by Sunee Luangwichit and Yaowanit Piengket held a press conference condemning his action as professionally unscrupulous and unethical.

They called Chai’s comment irresponsible and they called for an apology. They would also petition the Thai Journalists Association as well as related agencies to take action.

“Pheu Thai Party Women MPs regard Chai’s message as a violation of women's rights and a insult to women. On one hand, it accuses women of being whores who sell their bodies. Although the message does not refer to a specific person, it reflects the opinion of the author and this is insulting to the female gender. As women and men have equal rights, this kind of comment is very inappropriate and is a serious violation of his professional ethics,” they said in the statement.