The Chonburi Provincial Court has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against journalist Kowit Photisan, editor of The Isaan Record, by Deputy Prime Minister Suchart Chomklin for sharing a Facebook post.

The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Thai politician Suchart Chomklin to immediately drop his criminal defamation lawsuit against Kowit Phothisan, editor of the independent online outlet The Isaan Record, and on Thai authorities to strengthen protections against strategic lawsuits targeting journalists.

After Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, brought criminal defamation lawsuits against two journalists who reported about a bribery case, Human Rights Watch calls for a stronger anti-SLAPP protections, noting that the apparent aim of such lawsuits is intimidation and that they undermine freedom of expression.

Kowit Phothisan, The Isaan Record’s editor, has been sued for defamation by Deputy Prime Minister Suchart Chomklin over a Facebook post he shared. The post was originally written by The Isaan Record’s editor-in-chief Hathairat Phaholtap, whom Suchart previously sued over a report alleging that Thai politicians have been taking bribes from a former executive of a Finnish berry-picking company.

Hathairat Phaholtap, editor-in-chief of The Isaan Record, has been sued for defamation by Deputy Prime Minister Suchart Chomklin over an investigative report citing a statement from sources in the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) that Thai politicians have been taking bribe from a former executive of a Finnish berry company.

The District Court of Lapland has sentenced the CEO of a Finnish berry company to prison over 62 human trafficking cases involving Thai berry pickers. The workers have long sought justice and advocated for fair treatment and accountability from both berry companies and the Thai authorities.

Deputy Commerce Minister Suchart Chomklin has come under fire during the censure debate due to concerns over his qualifications and alleged links to a human trafficking case involving Thai berry pickers in Finland and Sweden during his tenure as Labour Minister.

<p>In an open letter, civil society organisations raised concern regarding seven migrant workers arrested at Ministry of Labour despite Thailand government&rsquo;s decision on amnesty pending regularization and demand for Protection of the Right to Defend Human Rights of migrant workers.</p>

<p>The government urged to replace the Minister of Labour to show their responsibility for failure in the management of foreign workers and to address human trafficking, stated the labour rights NGO Migrant Working Group (MWG).</p>

<p>Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has given a speech on nationwide TV discouraging people from joining protests in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and worsening the economy. In one week, the Thai government has launched several economic relief measures.</p>