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Articles - Thailand

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Thailand

Journalist may have been killed for exposing land disputes

A Thai journalist and political activist who often exposed land disputes was shot dead in Phuket, Thailand, report the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the International Press Institute (IPI) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). According to Human Rights Watch, more than 20 environmentalists and human rights defenders have been killed in Thailand since 2001, and few of those responsible have been held to account.

Thailand

Facebook users can get charged 15 years for posting content that insults monarchy

Facebook users could be charged for commenting on, sharing or clicking "like" on content deemed insulting to the Thai royal family, authorities announced on 24 November. The announcement came just a day after a 61-year-old man accused of sending insulting text messages was sentenced to 20 years in jail - the heaviest sentence ever handed down for a "lèse majesté" case, report the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and ARTICLE 19.

Thailand

Officials close down 13 radio stations ahead of elections

Authorities in Thailand shut down 13 radio stations in and around Bangkok for allegedly airing a speech that was considered defamatory to the royal family, report the Southeast Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Thailand

Web developer's 13-year sentence highlights trend of targeting messenger

Thailand's criminal court has sentenced a web designer to 13 years in jail, 10 of them for lèse majesté - insulting the monarchy - and three for violating the country's stiff computer crime laws, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and ARTICLE 19 report.

Thailand

Emergency decree lifted but rights violations continue

Eight months after violent clashes between anti-government groups and state security forces, the Thai government has finally lifted the emergency decree on Bangkok and three nearby provinces, reports the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) - but rights activists have little faith that much will change.

Thailand

Battle against free expression moves from the streets to the Internet and radio stations

After dismantling street protests in May, Thai authorities continue to hunt down any opposition, eliminate remnants of red shirt support and silence critical journalists in the name of national security and the monarchy. Twenty-six community radio stations have been shut down under an indefinitely extended state-of-emergency decree, a popular online venue for political debate has been forced to close its message board, and an online crime agency is being set up to pursue violators of the Kingdom's lèse majesté law (insulting the monarchy), reports the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA).

Thailand

Bangkok ablaze; two journalists killed and several others wounded

Downtown Bangkok has spiralled into a flaming battleground after close to two months of anti-government protests, with at least 39 dead, including two journalists killed in clashes, and hundreds wounded. Thai troops broke through the encampment of red shirts today, cracking down on the movement and triggering more violence, report the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and other IFEX members. The media have taken a heavy toll - several media outlets were targeted or closed down to protect staff, and other journalists have been shot and wounded. The government has imposed a night-time curfew across the country.

Thailand

Reuters journalist among 21 people killed in clashes

In the worst political violence in two decades in Thailand, a Japanese journalist was killed while covering battles between red shirt protesters and police military units, report the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and other IFEX members. At least 21 people have been killed in clashes this past week; close to 900 injured. The state of emergency declared in Bangkok by the government has resulted in escalated censorship of opposition and independent media.

Thailand

Grenades hurled at state-run TV stations; government cracks down on websites

Thai media outlets and journalists are under attack as thousands continue to march Bangkok's streets in anti-government "Red Shirt" demonstrations, report the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and other IFEX members. The Prime Minister declared a state of emergency in the capital today. Grenades lobbed at two state-owned television stations on 27 March injured 11 people, and on 2 April a car belonging to an employee of a daily newspaper was set on fire. Press freedom is also being curbed in other ways with a journalist facing 50 years in prison for insulting the monarchy.

Thailand

Activist jailed for 18 years for insulting monarchy

An opposition activist in Thailand was sentenced to 18 years in jail last week for insulting the monarchy, report the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and international news media.

Thailand

Twenty-six IFEX members protest against lese majeste charges

RSF and 31 other human rights, press freedom and journalists' organisations, including 25 IFEX members, have issued a joint appeal to the Thai government to ensure that no one ever goes to jail for lese majeste - insulting the monarchy.

Thailand

Political crisis inflicts fresh blows on free expression

Both the government and opposition protesters targeted the press in Thailand's recent political drama, report the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Thailand

IMPONEN A "BLOGUERO" 10 AÑOS POR DIFAMAR A LA MONARQUÍA

Thailand

DIX ANS DE PRISON À UN BLOGUEUR POUR AVOIR DIFFAMÉ LA MONARCHIE

Thailand

BLOGGER GIVEN 10 YEARS FOR DEFAMING MONARCHY

A Thai engineer who allegedly sent online pictures that offended the royal family has been sentenced to 10 years in jail, report the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), ARTICLE 19, Index on Censorship and English PEN.

Thailand

TAILANDIA: REY INDULTA A ESCRITOR AUSTRALIANO

Thailand

THAÏLANDE : ON PROTESTE CONTRE DES CHEFS D’ACCUSATION DE LÈSE-MAJESTÉ

Thailand

TAILANDIA: PROTESTA CONTRA CARGOS DE LESA MAJESTAD

Thailand

TAKE ACTION! PROTEST AGAINST LESE MAJESTE CHARGES

Thailand's new administration has stepped up its use of lese majeste charges to harass journalists and stifle free expression, leading at least one writer to go into exile because of the charges, report the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and other IFEX members.

Thailand

UNE NOUVELLE COALITION SE DRESSE POUR DÉFENDRE LA LIBRE EXPRESSION EN LIGNE

Thailand

NUEVA COALICIÓN DEFIENDE LIBRE EXPRESIÓN EN LÍNEA

Thailand

NEW COALITION STANDS UP FOR FREE EXPRESSION ONLINE

Amid the Thai authorities' excessive use of defamation laws and laws that restrict media coverage of issues involving the royal family, activists have launched a new civic coalition to promote and protect free expression online, reports the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA).

Thailand

MEDIOS ATRAPADOS EN FUEGO CRUZADO EN CRISIS POLÍTICA EN TAILANDIA

Thailand

LES MÉDIAS DANS LES FEUX CROISÉS DE LA CRISE POLITIQUE EN THAÏLANDE

Thailand

MEDIA CAUGHT IN CROSSFIRE IN THAILAND'S POLITICAL CRISIS

The Thai Journalists Association (TJA), the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) are calling on two warring factions in Thailand to end their targeted attacks on reporters and media outlets and allow all journalists to freely report on the current political crisis.

Thailand

LE REPORTER D'UN JOURNAL EST ASSASSINÉ

Thailand

ASESINAN A REPORTERO DE PERIÓDICO

Thailand

NEWSPAPER REPORTER KILLED

A journalist who frequently reported on local corruption in central Thailand was shot dead last week, reports the Thai Journalists Association (TJA).

Thailand

L'ÉTAT D'URGENCE NE FERA QU'ACCROÎTRE LES TENSIONS, PRÉVIENNENT LES ASSOCIATIONS THAÏES DE DÉFENSE DES MÉDIAS

Thailand

ESTADO DE EXCEPCIÓN AUMENTARÁ LAS TENSIONES, ADVIERTEN ASOCIACIONES DE MEDIOS TAILANDESAS

Thailand

STATE OF EMERGENCY WILL ESCALATE TENSIONS, THAI MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS WARN

The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) and other local press freedom groups are warning the Thai government against using the current state of emergency to justify restrictions on journalists.

Thailand

TURBA OCUPA TELEVISIÓN ESTATAL; BOMBAS MATAN A REPORTERO

Thailand

LA POPULACE OCCUPE LA TÉLÉVISION D'ÉTAT; UN ATTENTAT À LA BOMBE TUE UN REPORTER

Thailand

MOB OCCUPIES STATE TV, BOMBING KILLS REPORTER

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) condemned a mob occupation of a state-run television station in Bangkok on 26 August 2008. The attack happened during a week of mounting anti-government protests, in which thousands of protesters have camped out at the prime minister's compound, calling for his dismissal.

Thailand

REPORTERO INVESTIGADOR MUERTO EN SU CASA

Thailand

UN REPORTER D'ENQUÊTE EST TUÉ CHEZ LUI

Thailand

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER KILLED AT HOME

A reporter for a Thai-language daily and TV station was shot dead while cooking inside his own house on 1 August 2008 in Nakorn Sri Thammarat province. Athiwat Chaiyanurat was a reporter for "Matichon" newspaper and stringer for the army-owned Channel 7.

Thailand

TESCO CONTINUA LA OLA DE DEMANDAS POR DIFAMACIÓN

Thailand

TESCO CONTINUE SA VOLÉE DE POURSUITES EN DIFFAMATION

Thailand

LE CONTENU POLITIQUE SUR LE WEB EST MENACÉ; LANCEMENT D'UN OUTIL DE CONTOURNEMENT

Thailand

CONTENIDO POLÍTICO EN LA WEB AMENAZADO; LANZAN HERRAMIENTA PARA BURLAR AMENAZA

Thailand

POLITICAL CONTENT ON THE WEB UNDER THREAT; CIRCUMVENTION TOOL LAUNCHED

A prominent Malaysian blogger detained under the Official Secrets Act for comments on his blog accusing a minister of corruption is the latest victim of an emerging clampdown on online expression in the country and region, reports the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA).

Thailand

UNE PROPOSITION DE LOI VISE À LIMITER L'EXPRESSION EN LIGNE

Thailand

LEY PROPUESTA BUSCA RESTRINGIR LIBRE EXPRESIÓN EN LÍNEA

Thailand

PROPOSED LAW SEEKS TO CURB ONLINE EXPRESSION

Doctoring a person's picture that damages his/her reputation can lead to three years in jail and a US$18,000 fine, while damaging a computer's information system "related to the country's national security" can land you 10 years in prison under a new cyber crime bill passed nearly unanimously last week, report the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and ARTICLE 19.

Thailand

EN DÉPIT DES PROMESSES DE DÉMOCRATIE, LES DISSIDENTS SONT MENACÉS

Thailand

A PESAR DE PROMESAS DE DEMOCRACIA, LOS DISIDENTES SE ENFRENTAN A AMENAZAS

Thailand

DESPITE PROMISES OF DEMOCRACY, DISSIDENTS FACE THREATS

Although Thailand's Prime Minister has refused to declare a state of emergency in Bangkok, the government continues to crack down on dissidents and the right to free expression using censorship and other means.

Thailand

IFEX MEMBERS RAISE CENSORSHIP FEARS FOLLOWING COUP

Almost one week after a bloodless military coup in Thailand toppled a government led by controversial Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, free expression groups have raised fears over the uncertain situation facing freedom of expression in the country.

Thailand

EMPRESAS DE MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN ATACADAS POR MANIFESTANTES A FAVOR DEL GOBIERNO

Thailand

LES MÉDIAS SONT ATTAQUÉS PAR DES PARTISANS DU GOUVERNEMENT

En Thaïlande, une série d'attaques contre les médias critiques dans les jours qui ont précédé l'élection du 2 avril 2006 a suscité des appels inquiets de l'Association des journalistes thaïlandais (TJA), de l'Alliance de la presse de l'Asie du Sud-Est (Southeast Asia Press Alliance, SEAPA), du Reporters sans frontières (RSF), de la Fédération internationale des journalistes (FIJ) et du Comité pour la protection des journalistes (CPJ).

Thailand

MEDIA OUTLETS ATTACKED BY PRO-GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS

In Thailand, a series of attacks on critical media outlets in the days leading up to the 2 April 2006 elections prompted calls of concern from the Thai Journalists Association (TJA), the Southeast Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Thailand

DECISIÓN DE TRIBUNAL MARCA VICTORIA PARA LIBRE EXPRESIÓN

Thailand

COURT DECISION SIGNALS VICTORY FOR FREE EXPRESSION

In what is being hailed as a landmark ruling that will strengthen freedom of expression and press freedom in Thailand, a court has found media advocate Supinya Klangnarong and the newspaper "Thai Post" not guilty of criminal defamation.

Thailand

MIEMBROS DE IFEX PIDEN INVESTIGACIÓN DE MUERTE DE PERIODISTA

Thailand

DES MEMBRES DE L'IFEX EXIGENT UNE ENQUÊTE SUR LE MEURTRE D'UN JOURNALISTE

Thailand

IFEX MEMBERS URGE PROBE INTO JOURNALIST'S MURDER

Questions are being raised about the motive behind the murder of Thai newspaper publisher Santi Lamaneenil, whose bullet-riddled body was found outside the beach resort of Pattaya on 2 November 2005, report the Southeast Asian Press Alliance, the Thai Journalists Association (TJA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Thailand

PÉTITION D'APPUI À UN MILITANT DE LA RÉFORME DES MÉDIAS

Thailand

THAILAND: PETITION TO SUPPORT MEDIA REFORM ACTIVIST

13 September 2005

Thailand

ESTADO DE EMERGENCIA PREOCUPA A PERIODISTAS

Thailand

L'ÉTAT D'URGENCE INQUIÈTE LES JOURNALISTES

Thailand

STATE OF EMERGENCY WORRIES JOURNALISTS

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has imposed a state of emergency that empowers him to censor media reports on three Muslim-dominated, conflict-ridden provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattini, reports Southeast Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontiéres, RSF).

Thailand

AVEC LA VICTOIRE DE THAKSIN, UN NUAGE LOURD PLANE SUR LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE

Thailand

VICTORIA DE THAKSIN PROYECTA SOMBRA SOBRE LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Thailand

THAKSIN VICTORY CASTS DARK CLOUD OVER PRESS FREEDOM

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and Human Rights Watch have expressed concerns about the future of democracy in Thailand, following the landslide victory of Thaksin Shinawatra and his Thai Rak Thai Party in the 6 February 2005 general election.

Thailand

LES LOIS SUR LA DIFFAMATION VIOLENT LES NORMES INTERNATIONALES, DIT ARTICLE 19

Thailand

LEYES DE DIFAMACIÓN VIOLAN NORMAS INTERNACIONALES: ARTICLE 19

Thailand

DEFAMATION LAWS VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS: ARTICLE 19

Thailand's reputation in Asia as a champion of free expression is being tarnished by defamation laws that are increasingly being used to silence public debate, says ARTICLE 19. In a legal analysis, the IFEX member says the laws violate international standards on freedom of expression and should be reformed.

Thailand

LA TJA MARQUE SES 50 ANS PAR UNE EXPOSITION SUR LA PRESSE

Thailand

TJA CELEBRA 50 AÑOS CON FERIA DE PRENSA

Thailand

TJA MARKS 50 YEARS WITH PRESS FAIR

The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year by holding the largest ever press fair involving print and broadcast journalists in the country.

Thailand

LES TACTIQUES « À LA BERLUSCONI » MENACENT LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE

Thailand

TÁCTICAS "ESTILO BERLUSCONI" AMENAZAN LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Thailand

''BERLUSCONI-STYLE" TACTICS THREATEN PRESS FREEDOM

In Thailand, independent journalists and press freedom advocates are facing a "Berlusconi-style" government that is mixing politics and media ownership at the highest level, say the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Thailand

MEDIOS INDEPENDIENTES BAJO PRESIÓN POLÍTICA EN AUMENTO

Thailand

LES MÉDIAS INDÉPENDANTS SUBISSENT DE PLUS EN PLUS DE PRESSIONS POLITIQUES

Thailand

INDEPENDENT MEDIA UNDER INCREASED POLITICAL PRESSURE

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and other press-freedom groups have expressed concern over recent incidents of political interference in Thailand's independent media.

Thailand

L'ANNÉE DE TOUS LES REPORTAGES SANS DANGER?

Thailand

¿EL AÑO EN QUE INFORMAMOS SIN PELIGRO?

Thailand

2003 - THE YEAR OF REPORTING TIMIDLY?

For journalists in Thailand, 2003 was a year where the media resorted to self-censorship and avoided criticism of the government, according to the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) in its annual survey of press freedom.

Thailand

PERIODISTA ASESINADO

Thailand

ASSASSINAT D?UN JOURNALISTE

Thailand

JOURNALIST MURDERED

The Thai Journalists Association and Southeast Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA) have joined the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in urging Thai authorities to bring to justice those responsible for the killing of a reporter last week in the beach resort province of Phuket.

Thailand

2002, ANNÉE DE « COOPTATION », DIT LA TJA

Thailand

2002 UN AÑO DE "INVITACIÓN": TJA

Thailand

2002 A YEAR OF "CO-OPTATION:" TJA

The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) has dubbed 2002 the "year of media co-optation" – a year in which government attacks against the press became more subtle and sophisticated.

Thailand

DE LA PRESSE / LES RADIODIFFUSEURS COMMUNAUTAIRES S?ORGANISENT

Thailand

A LIBERTAD DE PRENSA / RADIOEMISORAS COMUNITARIAS SE ORGANIZAN

Thailand

RALLY AGAINST PRESS FREEDOM RESTRICTIONS / COMMUNITY RADIO BROADCASTERS ORGANISE

Representatives of Thailand's leading newspapers and media associations, including the Thai Journalists Association (TJA), have called on the government of Thaksin Shinawatra to abolish a 1941 law they say is the biggest obstacle to press freedom in the country, reports the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA).

Thailand

REPORTEROS EXTRANJEROS SE QUEDAN; PERIODISTAS EXIGEN INVESTIGACIÓN

Thailand

LES CORRESPONDANTS ÉTRANGERS RESTENT; LES JOURNALISTES EXIGENT UNE ENQUÊTE

Thailand

FOREIGN REPORTERS STAY; JOURNALISTS DEMAND INQUIRY

The Thai government has reinstated the visas of "Far Eastern Economic Review" journalists Rodney Tasker and Shawn Crispin, allowing them to stay in the country for the time being. The decision follows the magazine's public apology to the Thai Parliament last week for "any offence caused" from a 10 January article which referred to differences between King Bhumibol and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, reports the BBC. After the article was published, Tasker and Crispin were placed on a blacklist of individuals deemed threats to national security and threatened with expulsion [See IFEX "Communiqué" #11-8]. ">http://communique.ifex.org/articles.cfm?system_id=4163">#11-8].

Thailand

ORDENAN DEPORTACIÓN DE PERIODISTAS EXTRANJEROS

Thailand

DES JOURNALISTES ÉTRANGERS SONT CONDAMNÉS À ÊTRE DÉPORTÉS

Thailand

FOREIGN JOURNALISTS ORDERED DEPORTED

For the first time in decades, Thailand – whose press is considered one of the freest in Asia – has ordered the expulsion of two foreign journalists, saying they are a "threat to national security," report the Thai Journalists' Association (TJA), the Southeast Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). TJA and SEAPA are condemning the move as a "witch hunt" and an "unwarranted attack on free expression," saying it will have a "far-reaching negative impact on Thailand's international image as a democratic … country."

Thailand

2001 THE YEAR OF MEDIA INTERFERENCE, SAYS TJA

The Thai government should "stop interfering in the press to ensure its freedom," urges the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) in its year-end report on the situation of the press. Calling 2001 "the year of media interference," the organisation says the government of Prime Minister Thaksin attempted to interfere with news reporting five times during the course of the year. This resulted in the cancellation of a number of programmes on state-owned radio and television, according to TJA.

Thailand

2001 A ÉTÉ L?ANNÉE DE L?INGÉRENCE DANS LES MÉDIAS, DIT LA TJA

Thailand

2001 FUE EL AÑO DE INTERFERENCIA CON LOS MEDIOS, DICE TJA

Thailand

ASESINAN A DIRECTOR DE ESTACIÓN DE RADIO

Thailand

LE DIRECTEUR D?UNE STATION DE RADIO EST ASSASSINÉ

Thailand

RADIO STATION DIRECTOR MURDERED

Withayut Sangsophit, director of the radio station Home Media and host of a political news programme, was murdered on 10 April in Surat Thani in southern Thailand, according to Reporters sans frontières (RSF) and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN). Sangsophit was shot seven times by two or three unidentified assailants in front of the radio station, reports RSF. The organisation says police are investigating whether his death is linked to his role as president of a co-operative, where he dismissed several employees in the last four months, or to his work with the radio station. Sangsophit recently denounced financial irregularities in the construction of a new municipal rubbish dump. He had been under police protection for more than three months, after receiving death threats unless he stopped denouncing corruption among the authorities, reports RSF. In September 1999, a bomb was planted in front of the radio station, and about a month later, a mixture of excrement and tar was thrown at the windows of his company, says RSF.

Thailand

SUSCITAN TEMORES POR LIBERTAD DE PRENSA AL TOMAR POSESIÓN NUEVO PRIMER MINISTRO

Thailand

ENTRE LES CONGÉDIEMENTS SONT INTERVENUS DANS LE MONDE DE LA TÉLÉVISION

Thailand

TV FIRINGS RAISE PRESS FREEDOM FEARS AS NEW PM TAKES CHARGE

The firings of 23 journalists at iTV television on 7 February raise serious questions about press freedom under Thailand's newly elected prime minister, say the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) is a member, and Reporters sans frontières (RSF). Thaksin Shinawatra, who took office as prime minister on 9 February, is the founder of Shin Corporation which controls iTV. In January, prior to their dismissal, the journalists had publicly raised concerns over Shin Corporation's interference in news coverage during the recent general election, reports SEAPA. The station's employees said that critical coverage of Thaksin and his political party, Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais), was being muted by management.

Thailand

LES JOURNALISTES SONT EXCLUS DE LA COMMISSION SUR LA RADIODIFFUSION

Thailand

PERIODISTAS EXCLUIDOS DE COMISIÓN DE DIFUSIÓN

Thailand

JOURNALISTS EXCLUDED FROM BROADCAST COMMISSION

Eleven journalists' associations, including the Thai Journalists Association (TJA), are protesting the a new broadcast regulatory commission that will exclude journalists. The groups claim that media owners and operators have stacked the government-formed commission and warn that their interests will not be represented by them. After decades of state-controlled radio and television, the 1997 reform constitution was a welcome change that "opened the door for public participation in the broadcasting industry," says the TJA. Under the constitution, "historic" legislation was passed, which led to the creation of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), "an independent body which will reallocate frequencies and regulate the airwaves."