Thai politician in media fightback

Thai newspapers have covered the case widely

A controversial Thai politician whose fugitive son is wanted for murder has launched a weekly magazine.

The politician, Chalerm Yoobamrung, said he had decided to publish Thailand Review to defend himself and his family from attacks in the media.

The media have been criticising me and my family extensively

Chalerm Yoobamrung

In his first column, Mr Chalerm wrote that he would do his best to ensure the magazine's credibility.

His youngest son, Duangchalerm, has been on the run since October following the execution-style shooting of a policeman in a Bangkok nightclub.

Another of his three sons, Wanchalerm, has been charged with obstructing the police, assisting offenders and carrying firearms illegally.

In hiding

Duangchalerm, 20, is accused of shooting a plainclothes policeman in Bangkok during a nightclub brawl.

He fled the scene of the shooting and has evaded capture, but every twist and turn in the case has been given wide media coverage.

Mr Chalerm, 53, has insisted his sons played no part in the murder. He says if Duangchalerm is cleared, he will be given a column in the magazine writing about Buddhist amulets.

"The media have been criticising me and my family extensively and I don't get the opportunity to clarify," said the politician, who was a policeman before entering politics.

Mr Chalerm launched the magazine at a party on Tuesday night.

"Thailand Review will only sell if the magazine has credibility," he said at the launch.

The 80-page magazine, with the motto "Uncovering what's covered in Thailand" is for sale at 35 baht (81 US cents) per copy.