Thailand

(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. […]

(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, […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun, RSF protested the government’s placement of Shawn W. Crispin and Rodney Tasker, Bangkok bureau chief and journalist from the financial magazine “Far Eastern Economic Review”, respectively, on a blacklist of foreigners who are barred from entering Thailand. “We condemn this measure, which is prejudicial to […]

(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, […]

(TJA/IFEX) – The following is a 30 December 2001 TJA report: Year 2001 “year of interference”, TJA reports The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) has dubbed the year 2001 “the year of media interference”, citing five major attempts by Prime Minister Thaksin’s administration to both directly and indirectly interfere with news reporting. The association urged the […]

(TJA/IFEX) – The following is an 8 August 2001 TJA press release: Thai Journalists Condemn Special Branch Police for Misusing Draconian Press Law Bangkok, 8 August 2001 The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) today condemned the Special Branch Police Division (SBP) for its warning issued against two Thai-language daily newspapers, Thairath and Krungthep Turakij. In its […]

(TJA/IFEX) – The following is a TJA press release: Statement on World Press Freedom Day by Thai Journalists Association, May 3, 2001 On this festive occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2001, the Thai Journalists Association takes this opportunity to congratulate Thai journalists for their truthful and independent news coverage without fear or favor and […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 23 April 2001 letter to Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, CPJ said it was deeply disturbed by the recent murder of Withayut Sangsopit, a radio journalist and commentator who was gunned down on 10 April in the southern city of Surat Thani. While pleased that arrests have been made in the […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In an 11 April 2001 letter to Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun, RSF expressed its deep concern about the killing of Withayut Sangsophit, director of the radio station Home Media, in Surat Thani (in southern Thailand). RSF asked the minister to ensure that the inquiry is conducted in a fair spirit in order to […]

(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF correction: Please change the following sentence in the first paragraph of RSF’s letter to the interior minister: “Article 39 of the Thai constitution totally protects the right of journalists to freely inform their fellow citizens.” RSF regrets the error. The corrected version follows: In a letter to Interior […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Interior Minister Banthatthan Banyat, RSF expressed its concern about the deterioration of journalists’ security conditions as the electoral campaign draws to a close. The organisation asked the minister to take the necessary steps to guarantee the security of journalists and respect for freedom of speech. Robert Ménard, the organisation’s […]

(TJA/IFEX) – The following is a joint statement by the TJA, TV Cameramen and Reporters’ Association of Thailand and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA): Mob Violence against an ITV Journalist and two TV Cameramen Following the case of the physical attack by a group of people claiming to be Democrat Party supporters against Ms. […]

(TJA/IFEX) – The TJA has condemned the Supreme Commander Headquarters for censoring radio broadcasts by “Manager Daily”. In a 13 November 2000 letter to “Manager Daily”, Lt. Maj. Thanongsak Duvinanda, a member of the Administrative Committee for Radio and Broadcasting of the Supreme Commander Headquarters, ordered that all radio broadcast materials produced by the newspaper […]

(TJA/IFEX) – The following is a 25 August 2000 letter to Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which TJA is a member: His Excellency Chuan Leekpai Prime Minister Government House Thailand Fax: 66 2 282 8587/282 8631 Your Excellency: The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is alarmed by the […]

(AJI/IFEX) – The following is a 24 August 2000 letter to Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member: 24 August 2000 His Excellency Chuan Leekpai Prime Minister Government House Thailand Fax: +66 2 282 8587 Your Excellency: The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is deeply […]

(TJA/IFEX) – In a letter to Army Commander General Surayud Chulanont, the TJA and ten other associations representing professional media workers strongly protested against Thai Army interference in the process to elect media representatives to a committee to select members of the National Broadcasting Commission. The commission is an independent body being established under a […]