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Alerts - Thailand

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Thailand

"Uncle SMS" dies after serving 3 months of his 20-year prison sentence

Amphon Tangnoppaku died in prison whilst serving a 20-year prison sentence for sending four text messages deemed as insulting against the Queen of Thailand.

Thailand

Court should release journalist prosecuted under lèse majesté law

ARTICLE 19 has submitted an amicus brief to a Bangkok criminal court arguing that the criminal prosecution of Somyot Pruksakasemsuk under the lèse-majesté law violates his right to freedom of expression.

Thailand

Government urged not to bury truth about political violence

To end the cycle of impunity, the prime minister and her government should promptly bring charges against those responsible for crimes committed during the 2010 political upheavals, whatever their political affiliation or official position in the military or government, Human Rights Watch said.

Thailand

Four newspapers threatened with defamation

The papers are being targeted for publishing articles that accused the deputy prime minister of being drunk during the parliament's charter amendment debate on 25 February.

Thailand

Courts denying bail in lese majeste cases

The glaring injustices of the cases are being made even worse by the denial of bail for apparently political reasons and long periods of pre-trial detention, says Human Rights Watch.

Thailand

Website editor's trial resumes, court hears defence witnesses

At the end of the 16 February hearing, the court announced that it would issue its verdict in the trial of Chiranuch Premchaiporn, editor of the Prachatai news website, on 30 April.

Thailand

Solution to journalist's murder within reach

A suspect, Noppadon “Pae” Praisri, has given himself up to the police after learning that they were on his trail. He has implicated two others in the killing of journalist Wisut Tangwittayaporn.

Thailand

Journalist shot dead by unidentified gunman

Police are investigating the motive for the killing of Wisut Tangwitthayaporn but have not ruled out the journalist's reporting on corruption in the management of the province's land encroachment problem as a major cause.

Thailand

Red shirt activist Da Torpedo sentenced to 15 years for lèse majesté

Daranee "Da Torpedo" Charnchoensilpakul had previously been convicted and sentenced to 18 years during a closed-door trial, which the court later ruled was unconstitutional.

Thailand

Thai-born US citizen jailed for lèse majesté posts

Joe Gordon's alleged crime was translating sections of a banned biography of the Thai monarch and posting them online while living in the United States.

Thailand

Security forces blamed for fatal shooting of Japanese cameraman in 2010

The Thai deputy prime minister announced that eyewitness testimony and forensic evidence points to security forces' involvement in the April 2010 fatal shooting of Hiroyuki Muramoto in Bangkok.

Thailand

Authorities threaten new penalties for Facebook users

The government announced on 24 November that Facebook users could be charged under lese majeste laws for commenting on, sharing, or clicking 'like' on content deemed insulting to the royal family; individuals found guilty can be sentenced to up to 15 years imprisonment for each offence.

Thailand

Citizen sentenced to 20 years for lese majeste text messages

Ampon Tangnoppakul had been denied bail, resulting in a detainment of over eight months during which his health deteriorated.

Thailand

Authorities censor website devoted to flood news

Local news reports said the state-run Flood Relief Operations Command had issued a new requirement that Thaiflood submit its reports to the government for approval before publication.

Thailand

Government acknowledges effect of lèse-majesté on free expression

During a recent Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session in Geneva, the Thai delegation stated that it was keen to prevent further abuse of the law and and had set up a committee to advise the government on the use of lèse-majesté.

Thailand

Journalist dies from bomb blast injuries

Phamon Phonphanit, a reporter with the local "Sue Samut Atyakam" newspaper, died from severe burns he suffered while covering a series of bomb blasts in Sungai Kolok town.

Thailand

RSF calls into question responsibility of army in fatal shooting of cameraman

The Department of Special Investigation chief told Agence France Presse that the army was responsible for the fatal shooting of Japanese cameraman Hiroyuki Muramoto.

Thailand

New cases suggest no change in lèse-majesté policy

One of the latest cases is that of Surapak Phuchaisaeng who was arrested on lèse-majesté charges in connection with photos, videos and messages he posted on Facebook.

Thailand

SEAPA expresses concern over government officials' comments on lese majeste cases

The ill-defined law, allowing anyone to file an accusation, and the government's tacit approval of it puts at risk the work of media practitioners and online commentators, and the sharing of information online, warns SEAPA.

Thailand

Journalists subjected to intimidation tactics over Red Shirt coverage, interview with prime minister

Red Shirt movement members displeased with an interview with the prime minister are believed to be behind e-mails calling for readers to "take care of" a broadcast journalist.

Thailand

Blogger released on bail, faces charges

Norawase Yospiyasathien faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail for the charge of lese majeste and another 5 years under the Computer Crimes Act.

Thailand

Human Rights Watch calls for investigation into environmentalist's murder

Thongnak Sawekchinda had reportedly received anonymous calls threatening him with death if he continued to protest against the coal industry in Samut Sakhon province.

Thailand

Magazine editor charged with lese majeste

Somyot Prueksakasemsuk was formally charged in connection with two articles he published in the now-banned magazine "Voice of Thaksin".

Thailand

Media targeted in political transition

Police and National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) officials justified the raids and seizures on charges that the stations targeted lacked proper operating licenses, according to local press reports.

Thailand

Elected officials urged to make human rights a priority, address increasing media repression

During the election campaign, parties and candidates paid little attention to the country's deepening human rights crisis, Human Rights Watch said.

Thailand

History professor faces lèse majesté complaint

Somsak Jeamteerasakul has been criticised by the military and the Yellow Shirts royalist group for his statements about the monarchy.

Thailand

Editor detained on lese majeste charges as opposition radio stations raided

Somyot Prueksakasemsuk was arrested at a border checkpoint while attempting to cross into neighboring Cambodia; he was escorted by police back to Bangkok, where he is being held without bail.

Thailand

New cyber crime draft law shelved in face of civil society opposition

The bill, which was meant to replace the controversial Computer Crime Act of 2007, was put on hold by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva amidst strong criticism from civil society groups.

Thailand

Thirteen community radio stations ordered closed, three media workers arrested, for airing lese majeste speech

Four of the 13 stations were run by the Red Shirts, two of these were identified as 105.40 MHz channel and the 96.35 MHz "Red Skills" station, both in Pathum Thani, a province adjacent to Bangkok.

Thailand

Erratic investigation into Japanese cameraman's death yields "utterly unsatisfactory" findings, deplores RSF

The provisional conclusion that the security forces did not fire the shot that killed Hiro Muramoto betrays a reluctance to shed light on the circumstances of his death and identify those responsible, RSF said.

Thailand

Web designer sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for lese majeste, cyber-crime law violation

Thantawut Thaweewarodomkul was charged by the Technological Crimes Suppression Division (TCSD) for posting offensive messages and for failure to immediately remove an offensive message.

Thailand

Concerns of whitewash in killing of Reuters cameraman Hiro Muramoto

Recent investigation department findings indicating that the journalist was apparently not shot by security forces contradict the state agency's preliminary conclusions.

Thailand

Spotlight on controversial cyber crime law as trial of webmaster underway

Chiranuch Premchaiporn, executive director and moderator of the Prachatai website, faces 10 counts of violating the Computer Crime Act.

Thailand

Two journalists facing deportation released, fined by authorities

John San Lin and Pascal Schatterman were reporting on a conflict between the Burmese junta and a faction of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.

Thailand

Photojournalists face deportation

John Sanlin, a Burmese passport holder, and Pascal Schatterman, a Belgian national, were arrested by authorities in the Thai border town of Mae Sot after re-entering the country from Burma.

Thailand

Media activist, nine others arrested for entering parliament in 2006 rally to protest cyber-crime bill

If convicted of multiple offenses, the combined sentences of each of the accused would reach 20 years, SEAPA said.

Thailand

Government lifts emergency decree in Bangkok, three provinces

The army commander-in-chief was quoted as having said that the emergency decree could be invoked again should the situation demand it.

Thailand

Government urged to respect netizens' rights

The Thai Netizens Network said the government has been using the emergency decree to justify its censorship of more than 10,000 websites.

Thailand

Reuters reports government finds military involved in journalist death

Investigators now believe that troops may have been responsible for the shooting death of Reuters cameraman Hiro Muramoto.

Thailand

Webmaster of independent news site arrested on charges of violating computer law

Chiranuch Premchaiporn had just arrived from Budapest, Hungary where she had attended "Internet Liberty 2010", a conference on free expression online.

Thailand

Authorities still using emergency powers to suppress free expression and other rights, says Human Rights Watch

Five months after violent clashes between anti-government groups and state security authorities, the government has not put forward any justification for suspending certain human rights protections.

Thailand

Authorities prevent launch of Vietnam human rights report in Bangkok

The authorities decided not to allow representatives of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights to enter the country.

Thailand

Grenade explodes in front of government's TV station

The grenade hit a tree before exploding, damaging six parked cars nearby.

Thailand

Self-regulatory body censors TV ad on political conflict

The Thai Television Station Joint Censorship Committee recently banned a TV ad that featured the violent events in Bangkok in May saying that the commercial might spark another round of conflict, media reports said.

Thailand

Government shuts down 26 community radio stations

In Ubon Ratchathani, some 200 officials showed up to shut down a community radio station, while in Chiang Mai up to 500 officials were deployed to close down another station.

Thailand

Independent news website to close down message board due to restrictive online environment

The website's executive director said they will close down the message board because the media and posters could be accused of threatening national security.

Thailand

Royal pardon for Internet user serving 10-year sentence for lèse majesté

Suvicha Thakhor was serving a 10-year jail sentence on a lèse majesté charge for allegedly using software to modify photos of the royal family before posting them online.

Thailand

Government creates agency to pursue lese majeste violators online

Agence France-Presse quoted the government as saying that the Bureau of Prevention and Eradication of Computer Crime was established to protect the royal family.

Thailand

Government extends state of emergency

Free speech advocates insist that government should use existing laws to go after "dangerous" speech, rather than using the emergency decree to arbitrarily close down media outlets.

Thailand

Journalist killed, TV station torched, reporters threatened as Thai government moves against Red Shirts

Photojournalist Fabio Polenghi of the Italian news agency ANSA was shot in the chest and four other media workers were injured as they covered the military operations.

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