(CPJ/IFEX) – In an 8 January 2002 letter to Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, CPJ expressed its deep concern over the banning of the 10 January issue of the Hong Kong-based “Far Eastern Economic Review”. This act of censorship by Thaksin’s government is out of character with Thailand’s commitment to press freedom. On 7 January, […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – In an 8 January 2002 letter to Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, CPJ expressed its deep concern over the banning of the 10 January issue of the Hong Kong-based “Far Eastern Economic Review”. This act of censorship by Thaksin’s government is out of character with Thailand’s commitment to press freedom.
On 7 January, Maj. Gen. Treethos Ronlitthiwichai, the chief of a police department that oversees press affairs, issued the order banning the sale and distribution of the 10 January edition of the weekly magazine, according to news reports. In banning the issue, which had already been on sale in Thailand since Thursday 3 January, police officials cited the 1941 Publishing Act, which allows authorities to censor statements or articles that “might lead to social and national disorder”.
The article in question was a one-paragraph item in the magazine’s “Intelligence” section, which commented upon reported tensions between the Prime Minister’s Office and the Thai Royal Palace. Much of the information was based on a 5 December 2001 speech by King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the occasion of his birthday. The Thai press reported that the speech criticized Thaksin’s performance as prime minister.
CPJ expressed alarm that a widely respected regional magazine would be banned for any reason.
The organization believes that Thailand has often demonstrated its serious commitment to press freedom and open government, and any backtracking from that commitment is deeply worrisome. CPJ expressed particular concern over the use of the 1941 Publishing Act, a law that the Thai Journalists Association and others have criticized as being out of step with the press freedom guarantees contained in the 1997 Constitution.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the prime minister:
– calling on him to lift the order banning the sale of the “Far Eastern Economic Review”
– asking him to reaffirm his commitment to press freedom
– urging him to support the repeal of the 1941 Publishing Act
Appeals To
His Excellency Thaksin Shinawatra
Prime Minister
Government House
Bangkok, Thailand
Fax: +66 2 282 8587
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
