Human rights commissioner sues news outlets over murder comments

A well-known human rights commissioner has lodged a complaint against online news outlets over fake news about her comments on a karaoke hostess accused of committing a gruesome murder.

On 7 June 2017, Angkhana Neelapaijit, a National Human Rights Commissioner, filed a complaint to the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) against online media sites which allegedly violated her rights.

According to the Bangkok Post, the names of the media sites were not revealed, but Angkhana Facebook account shows tvpoolonline.com and Khaophisit.com running the same story on June 2 over her comments on the high-profile murder case.

The news websites did not quote her, but only stating that she defended the murder suspects. The news led a social media sabotage against her. Tvpool later removed the story, admitting that it was fake news on last Saturday, but Khaophisit.com still ran the news until Wednesday.      

Amid demands from many Facebook users that the murder suspect be executed, the human rights commissioner had publically besearched Thai society to let her and the judicial system work its course.

She emphasised that is not demanding damages, and only wants people to learn to respect different views.

She also wants to observe how the TCSD itself works to protect human rights as the case is directly related to the Computer Crime Act.

One the case, Preeyanuch ‘Preaw’ Nonwangchai stands accused of murdering and dismembering Warisara Klinjui, a 22-year-old karaoke bar worker on 23 May.

Two others, Kawintha ‘Earn’ Ratchada and Aphiwan ‘Jae’ Sattayabundit, have been accused of being accomplices. The three were arrested on Saturday.

Angkhana Neelapaijit, a National Human Rights Commissioner (file photo)

 

Note: Prachatai apologises for the omission of certain information in the story when it was initially published and has added additional information to the story.

 

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