Tesco libel suits update

An update on Tesco's recent libel storm. Two sets of cases are ongoing: one set being populated by three Thai writers, and the other by the UK Guardian newspaper. The Guardian is being sued for allegations about tax evasion; the Thais for criticising Tesco's expansion tactics in Thailand. The suits have been ongoing for a few months now.

The Guardian have exploded their suit, claiming that there were wrong to allege evasion of corporation tax in their original story (only available through google's cache, and probably not for much longer) - sorry, they say, it was Stamp Duty Land Tax they were evading. Over to Tesco. I say the gist of their story stands and is even stronger now: that Tesco have set up "a complex web of companies, trusts and partnerships" to evade taxes. Nice background piece on the investigation here.

Meanwhile, in Thailand... A raft of UK writers have written to Tesco to protest about the suits, in the Guardian (twice) and the Times; both the Times and the Guardian have also picked up on the story that Tesco never actually approached any of the three for an apology or response before suing. A real groundswell is now building in UK broadsheets and mainstream media and some Thai media against Tesco: good pieces by the BBC, Channel 4 TV, the Independent, Bangkok Post, in addition to a raft of stories in the Guardian.

The Guardian has done a useful backgrounder.

First court date for Kamoltrakul: May 6.