Thai junta’s ‘reaction’ to negative foreign coverage has foreign media on edge

Bangkok’s English-language daily The Nation, using reports from the Agence France Presse, is reporting that the military council running the country is supposedly ready to “retaliate” against foreign media whose reports on the recent coup could be deemed “insulting to the monarchy”. But the real context behind the statement attributed to a spokesman for the military council is still not clear. The Thai word used by deputy spokesman Major General Thaweep Netniyan had been translated by AFP to, “retaliate”. But the same word could also mean simply “to respond”. Some Thai journalists tell SEAPA that the Council’s statement was also taken by some to refer to a media campaign that the interim government is readying, rather than a political or military warning against foreign correspondents.

SEAPA is trying to verify the report.

Whatever the case, however, the confusion over what the Council is saying also underscores tension and uncertainty in the Thai media environment.

SEAPA: Litmus test for Thailand’s military council — Leave the press alone

Here is an op-ed piece from SEAPA, as published on September 23 by The Nation. The article argues that if the Thai media is the canary in the mines, recent efforts to curtail freedom of expression and to limit Thais’ access to information are clear indicators that not all is well with the military’s avowed move to “restore democracy”. Thais seem happy to give the soldiers who deposed former PM Thaksin Shinawatra the benefit of the doubt,  SEAPA acknowledges, but it stresses that the real “litmus test” to see the ultimate nature of the coup is whether or not the military can keep its hands off the press.

Thai media situation deteriorating: Broadcasting regulated, Internet webmasters warned. Community radio stations shut down. Self-censorship on the rise

Statement: SEAPA concerned for Thai media environment

It is clear and well understood that the Administrative Reform Council (ARC) has full control over Thailand in these abnormal times. However, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) must express its sincere concern for free expression and access to information in the country.

Military asserts rules for Thai media following coup, silences dissenting voices, arrests demonstrators

Two days into the peaceful military takeover in Thailand, freedom of expression and the media is under threat as the interim Administrative Reform Council moves to isolate deposed caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and clamps down on expressions against the coup.

A media situationer on Thailand following anti-Thaksin coup d’etat

Press freedom and access to information in Thailand following a military coup against caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra appear to be normalizing one day into the military takeover, but an interruption in news flow on local and cable channels in the first hours of the putsch, and the military’s assertion of ownership over the airwaves, underscore an unstable and unpredictable environment for the press.
The Southeast Asian Press Alliance is calling for vigilance.

Malaysian gov’t wrong to censure minister for responding to public concern, says CIJ

The following is a press release from SEAPA’s local partner in Malaysia, CIJ, on 15 September 2006:

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is concerned that the government has once again prevented the public from exercising its right to freedom expression and right to information by reprimanding elected representatives for raising public interest issues. The Cabinet warning to Deputy Higher Education Minister Ong Tee Keat reflects the administration’s lack of commitment in honouring its pledge for accountability and transparency.

Cambodian editor gets asylum

You Saravuth, the former editor of local bi-weekly newspaper “Sralanh Khmer” (Love Khmer), has been given asylum in Thailand by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said the newspaper’s present editor Thach Keth on 25 August 2006.

New law limits MPs’ speech, strips them of immunity

The Cambodia National Assembly on 30 August 2006 adopted a law that will restrict its members from expressing opinions freely during the exercise of their duty.

Singapore’s mighty Lees sue for defamation, yet again (and win, yet again)

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, have filed a defamation suit against the publisher and editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review, just two days after winning another libel case against democrat oppositionist Chee Soon Juan. Citing court records, Reuters is reporting that the powerful Lees — notorious for their intolerance of criticism and for keeping international media on a short leash in the city-state — filed the libel suit against Hong Kong-based Review Publishing Company Ltd and FEER editor Hugo Restall on Aug. 22 for an article published in July on opposition politician Chee Soon Juan.