Government interference with the media more sophisticated in 2002, says TJA in annual report
(TJA/IFEX) – The following is a Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) news release on the 2002 media situation in Thailand. The report was prepared by SEAPA member TJA: TJA Says 2002 was the Year of Media Co-optation The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) says the year 2002 marks the year of media co-optation, when overall abuses […]
Officials seize community radio station’s broadcasting equipment
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a joint press release by ARTICLE 19 and Forum-Asia: THAI OFFICIALS SEIZE COMMUNITY RADIO STATION EQUIPMENT CONTRADICTING PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT RESOLVE FOR DIALOG WITH COMMUNITY RADIO FEDERATION FORUM-ASIA and ARTICLE 19 strongly denounce the confiscation of broadcasting equipment of the Angthong community radio station. This is wholly inconsistent with the […]
Communities seek access to broadcasting frequencies
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: COMMUNITIES SEEK ACCESS TO BROADCASTING FREQUENCIES FORUM-ASIA and ARTICLE 19 welcome the establishment of the Community Radio Federation of Thailand and support their efforts to promote access by local communities to broadcasting frequencies. On 10 October 2002, 3,000 community radio operators and supporters, representing […]
Representatives of media organisations, editors come together to fight press freedom violations
(TJA/IFEX) – The following is a 9 October 2002 news release by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which TJA is a member: Bangkok–Representatives of media organizations and editors from national and provincial dailies met on Tuesday to brainstorm on issues related to free media violations. They came together to articulate views and find […]
Journalist imprisoned after losing defamation case
(WAN/IFEX) – In a 10 August 2002 letter to Prime Minister Thaksin Chinnawat, WAN and the World Editors Forum expressed their serious concern at the imprisonment of journalist Chaisiri Samuddhavanij for defamation. According to reports, on 8 August, Chaisiri, a columnist at the “Manager Daily” newspaper, was sentenced to three months in jail after losing […]
RSF condemns ongoing obstacles to press freedom by Burmese and Thai governments
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF and the Burma Media Association (BMA, an organisation of Burmese journalists in exile) have strongly condemned the recent obstacles to press freedom by the Burmese and Thai governments, particularly in the frontier zone between the two countries. “Once again, Burmese and Thai journalists are victims of the tensions between their respective governments,” […]
CPJ condemns recent moves by Burmese and Thai authorities to restrict media amid bilateral tension
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is an 18 July 2002 CPJ press release: BURMA-THAILAND: Authorities restrict media amid bilateral tension New York, July 18, 2002-The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns recent moves by both Burmese and Thai authorities to crack down on the media in response to heightened tensions between the two countries. A series […]
TJA condemns Burmese government’s blacklisting of 15 Thai journalists
(TJA/IFEX) – The following is a 15 July 2002 TJA press release: TJA Protests Rangoon’s blacklisting of 15 Thai Journalists On Saturday, the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) protested Rangoon’s decision to blacklist fifteen Thai journalists working for local dailies, saying the dictatorial move would block Thai media from having comprehensive views on Burma and worsen […]
Travel bans on journalists violate freedom of expression, says ARTICLE 19
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 and FORUM-ASIA press release: 16 July 2002 TRAVEL BANS ON JOURNALISTS VIOLATE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION FORUM-ASIA and ARTICLE 19 condemn the recent travel restrictions imposed by the Thai and Burmese governments preventing Burmese and Thai journalists, respectively, from entering the other country. It is not legitimate […]
TJA appeals to government for a more concrete implementation of Media Reform Plan
(TJA/IFEX) – The following is a TJA press release: TJA Appeals to Government for a More Concrete Implementation of Media Reform Plan May 3, 2002 Bangkok As World Press Freedom Day, endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), marks its 11th anniversary on May 3, 2002, the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) […]
TJA president calls for special committee to investigate government’s attacks on media freedom
(TJA/IFEX) – The following is an 11 March 2002 press release by the Southeast Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which TJA is a member: Bangkok-The newly-elected President of the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) today urged the Senate and the House of Representative to set up a special committee to investigate the Thaksin government’s latest attacks […]
TJA protests government’s “excessive abuse of its executive power to intimidate media”
(TJA/IFEX) – The following is an 8 March 2002 press release by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which TJA is a member: On Monday, the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) will submit an open letter to Senate Chairman Manoonkrit Roopkachorn, urging the top legislative body to impeach the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra […]
Government misuses “national security” to undermine freedom of expression, says ARTICLE 19
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 5 March 2002 ARTICLE 19 press release followed by ARTICLE 19’s letter to Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra: 5 March 2001 Thailand: Government Misuses “National Security” to Undermine Freedom of Expression ARTICLE 19, the Global Campaign for Free Expression, today condemns the Thai government’s misuse of “national security” […]
Radio programmes ordered off the air
(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 5 March 2002 letter to Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, CPJ expressed grave concern over a government order to ban radio programs produced by the Nation Multimedia Group. This appears to be the latest in a series of moves designed to stifle the country’s free press, one of the cornerstones of […]
RSF urges ASEAN secretary-general to intervene in support of the free circulation of information
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to ASEAN Secretary-General Rodolfo Certeza Severino, Jr, RSF expressed its concern about the increase in censorship and intimidation against foreign publications in ASEAN member countries. “The integration and economic development of Southeast Asia, which your organisation promotes, also depends on the free circulation of information,” noted RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. […]
Thailand to deport foreign reporters
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: Thailand to deport foreign reporters Bangkok, February 25, 2002-Thai immigration authorities have ordered the expulsion of two foreign correspondents for the Hong Kong-based Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER) magazine on the grounds that they are a threat to national security. Shawn Crispin, the magazine’s bureau chief, […]