Hathairat Phaholtap, editor-in-chief of The Isaan Record, filed a petition with a Senate standing committee and MPs from the People’s Party last Wednesday (25 March) to call for an investigation into SLAPP lawsuits by politicians.
Hathairat was previously sued for defamation by Suchart Chomklin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, over a number of Facebook posts, one of which contained a report from The Isaan Record’s Facebook page along with the caption “Presenting evidence of politicians taking bribes from Berry Finland Co.”. Suchart is seeking 50 million baht in damages.
Hathairat received a court summons on 21 March. A day later, after The Isaan Record broke the news about the lawsuit, Suchart said he is withdrawing the lawsut. Hathairat said in her petition, as well as several posts on her Facebook page, that she has yet to see the withdrawal document.
Hathairat thanked the public and reporters for the attention, saying that it was an honour to be sued as a journalists. She said the lawsuit against her would raise awareness about the suffering of Thai berry pickers in Finland and Sweden, who are victims of labour abuse and human trafficking. She noted that over 100,000 workers are affected, but only 4,000 is registered with the Migrant Workers Union of Thailand, and that there is now an ongoing human trafficking case in both Finnish and Swedish courts.
Hathairat said that The Isaan Record has signed a broadcasting contract with ThaiPBS to broadcast “Blood Berries,” its documentary about Thai berry pickers, and will be holding a screening at House Samyan.
The petition was received by Tewarit Maneechai, spokesperson for the Senate Standing Committee on Political Development, Public Participation, Human Rights, Rights, Liberties and Consumer Protection; and People’s Party MP Sahassawat Kumkong.
The full petition reads:
To: Committee on Political Development, Public Participation, Human Rights, Rights, Liberties and Consumer Protection, Senate; and Members of Parliament from the People’s Party
Subject: Request to investigate politicians and authorities for abusing their power to restrict the rights and freedoms of journalists and citizens
After I, Hathairat Phaholtap, Editor‑in‑Chief of The Isaan Record, received a court summons from the lawyer of Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, seeking 50 million baht in damages on 21 March 2026, it constituted an erosion of press freedom and severely undermined the morale of The Isaan Record’s editorial team. My colleagues and I have acted with integrity and have devoted over three years to reporting the plight of wild‑berry pickers.
Although Mr. Suchart, the plaintiff, has reportedly instructed his lawyer to withdraw the suit, stating that “she acted as a journalist in good faith,” we have not yet received any formal written confirmation of the withdrawal. Therefore, we will continue to mobilize to defend press freedom and to demand justice for the affected berry pickers until the status of the case is officially clarified.
I emphasize that using legal proceedings to sue the press for damages against journalists carrying out investigative work restricts media freedom and risks creating a precedent of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) that intimidate journalists who report honestly and ethically. I do not accept the silencing of the press through legal threats and harassment that strip away freedom of expression grounded in the public interest.
Accordingly, I call on the relevant authorities and the public to take the following actions:
1. Request that the parties concerned clarify the status of the case transparently; if the lawsuit is withdrawn, announce it in writing and make the declaration public.
2. Request that relevant authorities protect press freedom and ensure that journalists can carry out investigative work without unlawful threats, intimidation, or legal retaliation.
3. Urge the government and law‑enforcement agencies to investigate human‑trafficking and labor‑rights violations seriously and fairly, refrain from using legal procedures to obscure or divert attention from the core issues, and to reform the system for sending wild‑berry pickers abroad to ensure fairness and proper regulation.
4. Call on society and the public to support the press and citizen media, and to prioritize protecting the public’s right to access information.
I affirm that I will continue to carry out my journalistic duties, committed to reporting the facts, conducting rigorous verification, and taking responsibility for my reporting according to professional standards, so that the voices of those affected by human trafficking and labor exploitation are neither silenced nor ignored.
Prachatai English is an independent, non-profit news outlet committed to covering underreported issues in Thailand, especially about democratization and human rights, despite pressure from the authorities. Your support will ensure that we stay a professional media source and be able to meet the challenges and deliver in-depth reporting.
• Simple steps to support Prachatai English
1. Bank donation via the "Foundation for Community Educational Media (FCEM)", Krungthai Bank, account number 091-010-4328, Swift Code: KRTHTHBK
2. Or, Transfer money via Paypal, to e-mail address: [email protected], please leave a comment on the transaction as “For Prachatai English”