Thailand In Bottom 10 On Press Freedom

[Jai Dee]

Thailand in Bottom 10 on press freedom

Thailand has been listed by the Committee to Protect Journalists as one of the world's worst backsliders in freedom of the media in the past five years - countries that have turned from being relatively open into repressive and those where press conditions have worsened.

Ethiopia, Gambia, Russia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cuba, Pakistan, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Morocco and Thailand were cited by CPJ for government censorship, judicial harassment, criminal libel prosecutions, imprisonment of journalists and threats against the press.

In Thailand, once leading in press freedom, the military junta under Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont nationalised the country's only private television station and ordered radio to broadcast only military-prepared news, the CPJ report says.

More from the Bangkok Post here.

[Jai Dee]

Backsliders: The 10 countries where press freedom has most deteriorated

Two Asian nations—Pakistan and Thailand—are among the countries worldwide where press freedom has deteriorated the most over the last five years, a new analysis by the Committee to Protect Journalists has found. Pakistan ranks No. 6 following alarming increases in the murders and abductions of journalists. Thailand comes in 10th because of the new military government’s sweeping effort to control broadcast media.

Pakistan and Thailand join CPJ’s dishonor roll which is headed by Ethiopia, where the government has launched a massive crackdown on the private press by shutting newspapers and jailing editors, leads. The African nations of the Gambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo join Russia and Cuba as among the worst “backsliders” on press freedom.

“Democracy’s foothold in Africa is shallow when it comes to press freedom,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “These three African nations, as diverse as they are, have won praise at times for their transition to democracy—but they are actually moving in reverse on press issues. Journalists in Ethiopia, Gambia, and DRC are being jailed, attacked, and censored, a picture far worse than what we saw only a few years ago.”

In issuing its report to mark World Press Freedom Day, May 3, CPJ is calling attention this year to long-term erosion in press conditions. Rounding out CPJ’s “Top 10 Backsliders” are Egypt, Azerbaijan and Morocco.

The backsliders reflect a mixture of relatively open countries that have turned increasingly repressive and traditionally restrictive nations where press conditions, remarkably, have worsened. Nations such as Thailand and Morocco have been considered press freedom leaders in their regions but have charted sharp declines over the past five years. Other countries such as Cuba have long had poor records but have ratcheted up press restrictions through widespread imprisonments, expulsions, and harassment.

“The behavior of all of these countries is deeply troubling, but the rapid retreats in nations where the media have thrived demonstrate just how easily the fundamental right to press freedom can be taken away,” Simon added.

To determine trends in press conditions, CPJ analyzed case data worldwide for the years 2002 through 2007. Its staff judged conditions in seven categories: government censorship, judicial harassment, criminal libel prosecutions, journalist deaths, physical attacks on the press, journalist imprisonments, and threats against the press. CPJ staff excluded from consideration major conflict zones such as Iraq and Somalia, which lack conventional governance and newsgathering.

Source: Davao Today - 2 May 2007

[Jai Dee]

This could suit you

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont receives a jacket at Government House yesterday from Nattaya Chetchotiros, president of the Thai Journalists Association, to mark World Press Freedom Day tomorrow.

Source: The Nation - 02 May 2007

[marquess]

Press Freedom, as long as it is "freedom" as the gov sees it, and not the individual!

[Plus]

Is it ten in press freedom list or ten in deteriorating press freedom list?

Why the data was collected over the last five years but presented as "because of last year coup"?

One of cited reasons - "nationalised the only private TV station" does not even begin to reflect the reality.

Also ".. judicial harassment, criminal libel prosecutions..." have been consistently practiced by the members of the now deposed regime, and they haven't stopped even after the coup. Current government is yet to sue anyone for libel.

[mrt273nva]

i would have thought that china would come before thailand but i don't even see them on the list. i found china to be much much more strict with regards to the press and censorship.

[John K]

I wonder if the Thaksin spin team has their fingers in the pot. I thought it was worse under Thaksin in that only the news he approved got out. At least now it is limited to things that would be negative for Thailand’s recovery from Thaksin.

[JR Texas]

i would have thought that china would come before thailand but i don't even see them on the list. i found china to be much much more strict with regards to the press and censorship.

JR Texas: Point of clarification: they are awarding the "prize" based on the degree to which a country has declined in press freedom over the past five years..........China has violated press freedom consistently for many years so there is no real decline to measure, therefore, China would not be included.....at least that is how I am interpreting it.

[PeaceBlondie]

It appears to be a measure of backsliding, of deterioration. It is not an absolute ranking of comparative freedom of the press. It would be a wake-up call to a country that they have rather recently decreased the freedoms they formerly granted. Let us hope those who control Thailand wake up to the call.

[Plus]

Imagine they woke up to the call - what can they do about Thaksin's lawyer suing the press? Shut the guy up for the sake of press freedom? I bet they'd love that.

Or should they return ITV's consession and wait until it pays up 100 bil in bills? Or should they stop ITV's shareholders from suing the management for their losses?

[sriracha john]

I agree... unless they can cite more specific examples in regards to Thailand.... their assessment doesn't seem to reflect reality.

The reasons referenced to other countries, eg. "a massive crackdown on the private press by shutting newspapers and jailing editors" certainly isn't occuring here.

[dominique355]

Imagine they woke up to the call - what can they do about Thaksin's lawyer suing the press? Shut the guy up for the sake of press freedom? I bet they'd love that.

Or should they return ITV's consession and wait until it pays up 100 bil in bills? Or should they stop ITV's shareholders from suing the management for their losses?

How about stopping censorship in the Internet, in movies, books, TV and Radio broadcasting? How about rehabilitating the guy who 2 years ago disclosed the cracks in the runway at Suvannaphum and got fired and sued by the (previous) Government?

[hammered]

Recently havent more US journo's been jailed than Thai ones?

[Jai Dee]

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

Thai press freedom sinks further

Thailand's press freedom has been labeled as "not free" by the continued declining for the sixth years and now ranked 127 out of 194 countries surveyed, according to an international media index on press freedom.

New York-based Freedom House notes that the press freedom in Thailand has worsen followed the coup of September 2006 because the coup makers, which called themselves the Council For National Security, has largely treated the press as a potential threat to the new regime and restricted it as such.

The report was released on the eve of the World Press Freedom Day on Thursday.

This represents the worse assessment of Thai media ever done by a foreign organization. In 2000, Thailand ranked 29th as the country which had one of the freest press in the world. Under deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the overall media freedom deteriorated rapidly. Last year, Thailand ranked 107th and was listed "partly free."

After the coup, media restrictions have been concentrated on broadcasting and online media, most of them were dealt with criticism of the coup leaders as well as the monarchy.

Freedom House said in its report that the CNS took a very proactive and direct approach to securing media compliance, calling a meeting with senior media representatives to convey a host of coverage directives on September 21. Also included in the assessment was the events that followed after the coup when troops were positioned outside all broadcast stations, and broadcast executives were ordered not to air materials that might challenge the new regime.

It also added that restriction on media coverage during the coup itself were largely limited to disruptions of CNN and BBC broadcasts featuring background on Thaksin and a local broadcast airing a statement from Thaksin himself.

"Foreign and local journalists enjoyed relatively unfettered movement," it pointed.

According to the report, a number of significant restrictions were imposed in the coup's immediate aftermath. On September 20, the military's

Administrative Reform Council empowered the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) to "control, block, and destroy" information detrimental to the new administration and issued military order No. 10, urging media cooperation in promoting "peace and national unity."

Source: The Nation - 02 May 2007

[sonnyJ]

So howcome The Nation can publish this kind of lies...

[Plus]

How about stopping censorship in the Internet, in movies, books, TV and Radio broadcasting? How about rehabilitating the guy who 2 years ago disclosed the cracks in the runway at Suvannaphum and got fired and sued by the (previous) Government?

They can't stop censorship altogether. After the coup they added only one more category to the usual rules - Thaksin's propaganda, for a junta it's pretty benevolent.

The guy who wrote about cracks was punished by his own, privately owned newspaper. It's not govt business to order Bangkok Post who to fire and who to hire. I don't think the current govt is pursuing the lawsuit against him either.

Recent, post coup lawsuits were filed by Thaksin's lawyer, Thaksin's wife, and leaders of Thaksin's party. Surayud, on the other hand, didn't sue anyone for publishing spy photos of alleged stolen train carriages on his property.

Note that during "democratic" rule of Thaksin Thailand slipped 80 places down the list, the coup set it back only by 20.

[MiG16]

I wonder if the Thaksin spin team has their fingers in the pot. I thought it was worse under Thaksin in that only the news he approved got out. At least now it is limited to things that would be negative for Thailand’s recovery from Thaksin.

if this were truly the case I wonder how almost everyday during his rule there were always reports in some media or the other pointing fingers at Thaksin and his team, and how could many allegations against the administration have been raised and shared with the public that finally led to the mass protests against him?

sure he played around and used tactics like filing libel suits and buying out the media, but in terms of censorship I cant say that Thaksin restricted media....definitely not more than in the past

but then thats just my opinion.

buying out the media is not part of his role as government, we need to consider them in different light. (not saying its right way to go, but hes not using his executive power, rather his financial power) in terms of government censorship, a place like Malaysia with its annual renewal of license for the media to operate comes to mind. (and yes thats annual license by government every year to say if they can continue!)

[Bagwan]

Let us hope those who control Thailand wake up to the call.

And these are?

It seems to me at times that the only people who are in control and achieve anything are the terrorists in the South.

[MiG16]

After the coup they added only one more category to the usual rules - Thaksin's propaganda, for a junta it's pretty benevolent.

still inacceptable, and to say that cos its under a coup censorship is justified? well if this coup (which clearly I do not welcome, never did) is to be true to its words of claiming to be "DIFFERENT" then they've got to show that by some action. now the spokesman of CNS (or was it the cabinet...but think it was more the CNS) calling all local media to a meeting and asking them to 'cooperate' in not reporting news about Thaksin ....how does that count for free? if you want to take someone down for their wrongdoing, then you show to the public with evidence their wrongdoing, and not by indulging in the same things you accuse your predecessor of.

they want to show that this coup ..going as far as to call it democratic reform....then they have to start acting to prove it.....maintaining even the status quo....let alone increase......on press freedom would be but one tiny step in that democratic process.

[alexth]

After the coup they added only one more category to the usual rules - Thaksin's propaganda, for a junta it's pretty benevolent.

still inacceptable, and to say that cos its under a coup censorship is justified? well if this coup (which clearly I do not welcome, never did) is to be true to its words of claiming to be "DIFFERENT" then they've got to show that by some action. now the spokesman of CNS (or was it the cabinet...but think it was more the CNS) calling all local media to a meeting and asking them to 'cooperate' in not reporting news about Thaksin ....how does that count for free? if you want to take someone down for their wrongdoing, then you show to the public with evidence their wrongdoing, and not by indulging in the same things you accuse your predecessor of.

they want to show that this coup ..going as far as to call it democratic reform....then they have to start acting to prove it.....maintaining even the status quo....let alone increase......on press freedom would be but one tiny step in that democratic process.

The country is ruled by a thai military junta. What could one expect? Better?! NO F*****G WAY

[Francis Maube]

Coup aside, I have felt a general decline in The Nation quality over the past 10 years or so. Some 15/20 years ago I perceived the Bangkok Post as being too pro government, The Nation, at that time, was quite happy to critizise the government and also features some interesting Analysis.

Today I find both papers rather bland and, although not anywhere close to tabloid sort of publishing, with trivial news on the increase.

I have no fact to support the above, just noticing and wandering if anyone has the same feeling.

[Plus]

Censorship unde the junta is not justified, it's expected. I think it could have been far worse than it is now.

if this were truly the case I wonder how almost everyday during his rule there were always reports in some media or the other....

That's the key - not on TV, not on the radio, not in major Thai dailies, somewhere in "some media or other"

pointing fingers at Thaksin and his team, and how could many allegations against the administration have been raised and shared with the public that finally led to the mass protests against him?

Mass protests were initially led by Sondhi who was kicked off state television and had to fight for ASTV broadcasting license in courts and distribute his programs on VCDs - hardly mass media.

sure he played around and used tactics like filing libel suits and buying out the media, but in terms of censorship I cant say that Thaksin restricted media....definitely not more than in the past

but then thats just my opinion.

Thaksin's tactics (carrots and sticks) were far more effective than outright censorship (sticks only) as media has completely lost the desire to fight for freedom.

buying out the media is not part of his role as government, we need to consider them in different light. (not saying its right way to go, but hes not using his executive power, rather his financial power) in terms of government censorship...

Are you saying that it's so much better if the media gets paid for toeing the line than punished for standing up?

[BlackArtemis]

What do you mean? I freely get my news from www.*********.com, www.*****************.com and www.*****.com :shrug: I don't see any type of censors

[KireB]

I miss youtube!

[MiG16]

Censorship unde the junta is not justified, it's expected. I think it could have been far worse than it is now.

That's the key - not on TV, not on the radio, not in major Thai dailies, somewhere in "some media or other"

Mass protests were initially led by Sondhi who was kicked off state television and had to fight for ASTV broadcasting license in courts and distribute his programs on VCDs - hardly mass media.

Are you saying that it's so much better if the media gets paid for toeing the line than punished for standing up?

well I always got my news from traditional media such as TV and thai newspapers, and it was definitely on TV that I heard accusations against Thaksin. (while he was still in power)

and I think in my previous post I made it quite clear that Im not saying its better that he buys out the media, but in this particular instance we are talking about government censorship and control of media freedom...the key word being government, so Im just comparing the government stand under Thaksin, opposed to the one under this current government.

and yes as you rightly point out, since its a coup you kinda expect total ban on media freedom amongst other things...but thats provided this junta admit to administering a conventional coup d'etat. but if they want to continue on insisting that THIS TIME its different then they will have to do something to show that its different wont they

[Tony Clifton]

I miss youtube!

What`s the average lenght of a youtube video, 3, 4, 5 minutes?

Learn about proxies in 6...

[sriracha john]

New York-based Freedom House notes that the press freedom in Thailand has worsen followed the coup of September 2006 because the coup makers, which called themselves the Council For National Security, has largely treated the press as a potential threat to the new regime and restricted it as such.

Interesting to see who sits on the Freedom House Board of Directors....

none other than Ken Adelman...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?ac...amp;pid=1276918

employed by Thaksin's public relations firm in America...

employed by USA for Innovation which is the pharmaceutical company's propaganda machine lambasting Thailand's HIV medicine policies...

USA for Innovation is also responsible for propagating the disgusting lies about why YouTube is blocked

[alexth]

What lies?

[bkkandrew]

I miss youtube!

What`s the average lenght of a youtube video, 3, 4, 5 minutes?

Learn about proxies in 6...

Yes, but it is a sad state of affairs when you have to circumvent laws (by using proxies) to access mainstream media in a country....

[sriracha john]

What lies?

If you're not able to click on the link above, I'll help you out:

This obvious lie:

USA for Innovation also turned to YouTube last week to "release a message to the people of Thailand". It claimed that the video-sharing site was blocked in Thailand for criticising the government.

We all know the real reason it was blocked.... or at least we should all know the real reason. If the reason they state is not real... that makes it a lie.