Press Freedom Index 2010

[yellow1red1]

Thailand

2002 - 65

2003 - 82

2004 - 59

2005 - 107

2006 - 122

2007 - 135

2008 - 124

2009 - 130

2010 = 153

says Volumes!

http://en.rsf.org/spip.php?page=classement&id_rubrique=1034

also, 'surveillance' list for enemy of internet with Warning to be moved to enemy of internet list if trend is not reversed

giddyUP ha ha ha

[hanuman1]

Never mind the censorship, feel the security Right, anti-red obsessives?

[phiphidon]

Wouldn't this post be better in the "News" Section? Might attract more readers with interesting comments to make about this damning of the "democracy" currently in place. I can't wait to see the excuses.

[hanuman1]

Wouldn't this post be better in the "News" Section? Might attract more readers with interesting comments to make about this damning of the "democracy" currently in place. I can't wait to see the excuses.

Maybe it's not considered 'News' any more. Just accepted as the norm.

[LaoPo]

It confirms my sentence I wrote a few days ago on this forum that Thailand is LESS democratic than 10 years ago.....

...ruled by a Democratic Party alliance Government.

Well done Mr. Abhisit...well done, NOT.

LaoPo

[yellow1red1]

Wouldn't this post be better in the "News" Section? Might attract more readers with interesting comments to make about this damning of the "democracy" currently in place. I can't wait to see the excuses.

hmmm.. if Members were 'allowed' to post in News, it would have moved up to 149 spot

[JetsetBkk]

Wouldn't this post be better in the "News" Section? Might attract more readers with interesting comments to make about this damning of the "democracy" currently in place. I can't wait to see the excuses.

hmmm.. if Members were 'allowed' to post in News, it would have moved up to 149 spot

Yes! Webfact where are you?

[SergeiY]

Wouldn't this post be better in the "News" Section? Might attract more readers with interesting comments to make about this damning of the "democracy" currently in place. I can't wait to see the excuses.

Maybe it's not considered 'News' any more. Just accepted as the norm.

Today one Dude over there said to me that when i fail to see that Abhisit is the cleanest and the best PM evar its because i would not follow the news.

[LaoPo]

Wouldn't this post be better in the "News" Section? Might attract more readers with interesting comments to make about this damning of the "democracy" currently in place. I can't wait to see the excuses.

Maybe it's not considered 'News' any more. Just accepted as the norm.

Today one Dude over there said to me that when i fail to see that Abhisit is the cleanest and the best PM evar its because i would not follow the news.

..he's right since how can you follow the news if there is no news because everything is censored ?

LaoPo

[Spee]

After reading the questions and scoring criteria, it doesn't seem possible for Thailand to accumulate such a score. And as usual with statistics, one has to read between the lines for the straight poop. It appears that Thailand's score was heavily skewed (perhaps by half or more of the total score) by the people killed and injured during the recent riots and civil unrest. I don't wish injuries or death on anyone, but it is hardly reasonable to allege highly reduced long term press freedom because people consciously choose to place themselves into the middle of short term violence where shots are being fired and people are being beaten. Not saying that things couldn't be better in Thailand, but please keep things in perspective.

[LaoPo]

After reading the questions and scoring criteria, it doesn't seem possible for Thailand to accumulate such a score. And as usual with statistics, one has to read between the lines for the straight poop. It appears that Thailand's score was heavily skewed (perhaps by half or more of the total score) by the people killed and injured during the recent riots and civil unrest. I don't wish injuries or death on anyone, but it is hardly reasonable to allege highly reduced long term press freedom because people consciously choose to place themselves into the middle of short term violence where shots are being fired and people are being beaten. Not saying that things couldn't be better in Thailand, but please keep things in perspective.

You mean like the 10's of thousands of blocked websites ?

There's a very reliable news agency in Hong Kong and I happen to know that they were on and off blocked because of their newsreporting both about reds and yellow and the government didn't like what they published (about both sides) and thus..blocked them.

That's Thailand in the 21st century and perspective.

LaoPo

[Spee]

You mean like the 10's of thousands of blocked websites ?

Easy hurdle to overcome with a private VPN/web proxy service, available for about 10 baht per day.

There's a very reliable news agency in Hong Kong and I happen to know that they were on and off blocked because of their newsreporting both about reds and yellow and the government didn't like what they published (about both sides) and thus..blocked them.

Seems like a clear cut case of censorship. As I said, there is room for improvement.

[LaoPo]

You mean like the 10's of thousands of blocked websites ?

Easy hurdle to overcome with a private VPN/web proxy service, available for about 10 baht per day.

Maybe so but it's about freedom of speech and freedom of press.

LaoPo

[yellow1red1]

<BR>After reading the questions and scoring criteria, it doesn't seem possible for Thailand to accumulate such a score. And as usual with statistics, one has to read between the lines for the straight poop. It appears that Thailand's score was heavily skewed (perhaps by half or more of the total score) by the people killed and injured during the recent riots and civil unrest. I don't wish injuries or death on anyone, but it is hardly reasonable to allege highly reduced long term press freedom because people consciously choose to place themselves into the middle of short term violence where shots are being fired and people are being beaten. Not saying that things couldn't be better in Thailand, but please keep things in perspective.

let's keep things in geometry DUH

there's honest, caring human beings in jail for years, for speaking the truth ; and exiles ; they arrested flipflop sellers FCS,,,

How can anybody from Britain, America, Canada, Germany, Sweden; stand the stifling stench of Dracula!?

Xxxx xxx Xxxx!

This Thread wasn;t closed ,,, score up to 152 for that. ha ha ha

Edited October 22, 2010 by yellow1red1

[DP25]

You mean like the 10's of thousands of blocked websites ?

99% of which are pornography websites, which these studies never bother to consider. Anyone who thinks press freedom is worse today than under Thaksin needs their head examined. Just look at the stuff they print in all the red rags every week, never would have been allowed before.

[Spee]

there's honest, caring human beings in jail for years, for speaking the truth ; and exiles ;

Are you referring to journalists? In jail in Thailand for years, for speaking the truth? I'm open minded. Educate me.

[Spee]

You mean like the 10's of thousands of blocked websites ?

99% of which are pornography websites, which these studies never bother to consider.

Kind of blurring the lines between freedom of press, freedom of speech and freedom to view/distribute/sell these kinds of materials, aren't we?

I like what the great economist Dr. Walter E. Williams says about freedom of speech, of which freedom of the press is a subset. The real test of freedom of speech is not tolerating something someone says with which one totally agrees. The real test is tolerating something someone says with which one totally disagrees. There doesn't seem to be an abundance of the latter in Thailand, despite the prevailing Buddhist culture, mai bpen rai attitude, etc. At least we have TVF!

[LaoPo]

You mean like the 10's of thousands of blocked websites ?

99% of which are pornography websites, which these studies never bother to consider. Anyone who thinks press freedom is worse today than under Thaksin needs their head examined. Just look at the stuff they print in all the red rags every week, never would have been allowed before.

You seem to have great kowledge about the % of blocked websites, being porn.

And I think you need to examine your head yourself.....BECAUSE YOU and nobody else reacted to the details as WHY Thailand was dropping so fast on the list of Press Freedom and I suggest you read the details (on this 12 pages long list !!!) about Thailand, here:

http://en.rsf.org/thailand.html

Amongst them a few on the list by Reporters without Borders/Reporters Sans Frontieres :

* Absurd Prosecutions

* Unacceptable Arrest

* Does state of emergency justify censorship of Red Shirt media?

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

* Prachatai website editor due to appear before Bangkok criminal court next week

* Journalists under attack, reporting brought to a halt

* US citizen interrogated by Thai officials for his online activities

The rest is on the list, 12 pages long.

"Thailand was listed as one of the “Countries under Surveillance” in the report on “Enemies of the Internet which Reporters Without Borders released on 11 March."

From:

http://en.rsf.org/thailand-news-website-editor-arrested-on-24-09-2010,38440.html

LaoPo

Edited October 22, 2010 by LaoPo

[yellow1red1]

there's honest, caring human beings in jail for years, for speaking the truth ; and exiles ;

Are you referring to journalists? In jail in Thailand for years, for speaking the truth? I'm open minded. Educate me.

ok, let's meet in an open field, frisk for 'wires' and fully dicuss the issues,,, as you well know THEY CANNOT be discussed here,,, which is proof of the pudding ;; it IS surprising nobody has called 1111

ha! yet ............. hee HAW on this Thread

if YOU think there is free speech in Thailand, tell ME

what do you think of Xxxx xxx xxxxxxx future of Xxxx?

and Xxxx xx xxx xxxxxxx of choice of xxxx xxxx would most Xxxx's choose?

Maybe you don't know or don't want to know that xxx xxxx Xxxxxx xxx Xxx Xxxxxxxx xxxxxx!?

Edit; if fully answer your ? it won't be YOU who gets the suspension. HA HA HA

Edited October 22, 2010 by yellow1red1

[WinnieTheKhwai]

You mean like the 10's of thousands of blocked websites ?

Easy hurdle to overcome with a private VPN/web proxy service, available for about 10 baht per day.

There's a very reliable news agency in Hong Kong and I happen to know that they were on and off blocked because of their newsreporting both about reds and yellow and the government didn't like what they published (about both sides) and thus..blocked them.

Seems like a clear cut case of censorship. As I said, there is room for improvement.

Yes, except that the government made that illegal, too. Pretty hefty punishment it carries too.

Censorship is really out of control. Of course Thailand never was much of a democracy, but they managed to fool the world much better before.

[yellow1red1]

You mean like the 10's of thousands of blocked websites ?

Easy hurdle to overcome with a private VPN/web proxy service, available for about 10 baht per day.

There's a very reliable news agency in Hong Kong and I happen to know that they were on and off blocked because of their newsreporting both about reds and yellow and the government didn't like what they published (about both sides) and thus..blocked them.

Seems like a clear cut case of censorship. As I said, there is room for improvement.

Yes, except that the government made that illegal, too. Pretty hefty punishment it carries too.

Censorship is really out of control. Of course Thailand never was much of a democracy, but they managed to fool the world much better before.

so, so true - how DARE you say it!?

Burma, sawy Mydrama, is getting set to copy the Thia formula, HEY why hide from the 'free' world when the corps will send in their armies of dirty suits if you make it look like a leetle bit like a democracy?

watch for key words from Burma, elections democracy globalisation, but NObody gets out of jail..

all great and comfy for us to expound in Forum while the real activists see bars all day long, for years and years

Xxxx xxx Xxxx!

[hanuman1]

there's honest, caring human beings in jail for years, for speaking the truth ; and exiles ;

Are you referring to journalists? In jail in Thailand for years, for speaking the truth? I'm open minded. Educate me.

ok, let's meet in an open field, frisk for 'wires' and fully dicuss the issues,,, as you well know THEY CANNOT be discussed here,,, which is proof of the pudding ;; it IS surprising nobody has called 1111

ha! yet ............. hee HAW on this Thread

if YOU think there is free speech in Thailand, tell ME

what do you think of Xxxx xxx xxxxxxx future of Xxxx?

and Xxxx xx xxx xxxxxxx of choice of xxxx xxxx would most Xxxx's choose?

Maybe you don't know or don't want to know that xxx xxxx Xxxxxx xxx Xxx Xxxxxxxx xxxxxx!?

Edit; if fully answer your ? it won't be YOU who gets the suspension. HA HA HA

Well personally, I think the xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx should be xxxxxxxxx, if anything just to dismiss the widely circulated rumor among rural Thais that the xxxxxxxxx ordered the xxxxxxxx to shoot xxxxxxxxxx. Even if it is a complete fallacy that members of the xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx have any control over the xxxxxxx, there is sufficient discontent to at least follow xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx's (a member of the xxxxxxxxxx government) lead when he gave a speech to xxxxxxxxx in xxxxxxxx advocating the discussion of the role of the xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx in xxxxxxxx society. Even the xxxxxxxx openly suggested that xxxxxxxxx should be discussed openly, since no-one is xxxxxxxxxxx.

Thank you for reading. Now where's my xxxxxxxxx beer?

Edited October 22, 2010 by hanuman1

[LaoPo]

Well personally, I think the xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx should be xxxxxxxxx, if anything just to dismiss the widely circulated rumor among rural Thais that the xxxxxxxxx ordered the xxxxxxxx to shoot xxxxxxxxxx. Even if it is a complete fallacy that members of the xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx have any control over the xxxxxxx, there is sufficient discontent to at least follow xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx's (a member of the xxxxxxxxxx government) lead when he gave a speech to xxxxxxxxx in xxxxxxxx advocating the discussion of the role of the xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx in xxxxxxxx society. Even the xxxxxxxx openly suggested that xxxxxxxxx should be discussed openly, since no-one is xxxxxxxxxxx.

Thank you for reading. Now where's my xxxxxxxxx beer?

Please, can we keep it civil?

A discussion about the freedom of press in Thailand doens't necessarily mean hat we have to be fed with cr@p like this...

LaoPo

[Bizz]

It confirms my sentence I wrote a few days ago on this forum that Thailand is LESS democratic than 10 years ago.....

...ruled by a Democratic Party alliance Government.

Well done Mr. Abhisit...well done, NOT.

LaoPo

the voice of reason has spoken.

it is rarely I hear you so resolute.

[LaoPo]

It confirms my sentence I wrote a few days ago on this forum that Thailand is LESS democratic than 10 years ago.....

...ruled by a Democratic Party alliance Government.

Well done Mr. Abhisit...well done, NOT.

LaoPo

the voice of reason has spoken.

it is rarely I hear you so resolute.

I try to be diplomatic at all times but fail also.

I am fallible, at times, many times, unlike many others on this forum (not personally to you Bizz!).

But, coming to Thailand for more than 30 years I cannot come to another conclusion than having to agree with Reporters without Borders, sadly enough.

Others, who claim it's not as bad are not aware of the dangers in Thailand. Something small, a mistake, a sidestep, even minor, can bring you in jail whilst others, the priviliged, criminals, murderers walk free.

This country has a long, long way to go and is in fact still a third world country but wants to expose itself as a developed and democratic nation.

It's NOT, by far.

It's a country ruled by a few. The happy few.

LaoPo

[JetsetBkk]

It confirms my sentence I wrote a few days ago on this forum that Thailand is LESS democratic than 10 years ago.....

...ruled by a Democratic Party alliance Government.

Well done Mr. Abhisit...well done, NOT.

LaoPo

the voice of reason has spoken.

it is rarely I hear you so resolute.

I try to be diplomatic at all times but fail also.

I am fallible, at times, many times, unlike many others on this forum (not personally to you Bizz!).

But, coming to Thailand for more than 30 years I cannot come to another conclusion than having to agree with Reporters without Borders, sadly enough.

Others, who claim it's not as bad are not aware of the dangers in Thailand. Something small, a mistake, a sidestep, even minor, can bring you in jail whilst others, the priviliged, criminals, murderers walk free.

This country has a long, long way to go and is in fact still a third world country but wants to expose itself as a developed and democratic nation.

It's NOT, by far.

It's a country ruled by a few. The happy few.

LaoPo

If we still had the reputation thingy, you'd be getting a few dozen 's.

And still this thread is not in the News section for all those experts on Thailand (experts in their own heads) to comment on?

[yellow1red1]

there's honest, caring human beings in jail for years, for speaking the truth ; and exiles ;

Are you referring to journalists? In jail in Thailand for years, for speaking the truth? I'm open minded. Educate me.

ok, let's meet in an open field, frisk for 'wires' and fully dicuss the issues,,, as you well know THEY CANNOT be discussed here,,, which is proof of the pudding ;; it IS surprising nobody has called 1111

ha! yet ............. hee HAW on this Thread

if YOU think there is free speech in Thailand, tell ME

what do you think of Xxxx xxx xxxxxxx future of Xxxx?

and Xxxx xx xxx xxxxxxx of choice of xxxx xxxx would most Xxxx's choose?

Maybe you don't know or don't want to know that xxx xxxx Xxxxxx xxx Xxx Xxxxxxxx xxxxxx!?

Edit; if fully answer your ? it won't be YOU who gets the suspension. HA HA HA

Well personally, I think the xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx should be xxxxxxxxx, if anything just to dismiss the widely circulated rumor among rural Thais that the xxxxxxxxx ordered the xxxxxxxx to shoot xxxxxxxxxx. Even if it is a complete fallacy that members of the xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx have any control over the xxxxxxx, there is sufficient discontent to at least follow xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx's (a member of the xxxxxxxxxx government) lead when he gave a speech to xxxxxxxxx in xxxxxxxx advocating the discussion of the role of the xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx in xxxxxxxx society. Even the xxxxxxxx openly suggested that xxxxxxxxx should be discussed openly, since no-one is xxxxxxxxxxx.

Thank you for reading. Now where's my xxxxxxxxx beer?

Hanuman, i wish I could say the same thing! it's SO true Xx said it was okay xx xxxxxxx Xxx because Xx xx xxx x Xxx. Therefore if a Xxxx was really xxxxxx to xxx Xxxx tehy would xxxxxxx Xxx xxxxxxx! It's the ones who xxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxx XX that are really xxxx Xxxxxxxxs!

All these expats crowing about the mystereries of Thainess. what a barge of crap,,, it's elementary!,,, breathe Corruption, keep one's mouth shout, pay yer fines, applaud when the the new Mercedez driver gets away with bribery and murder, don't care about the little people getting stomped on... <<< idiot proof guide to "Thainess"

and don't XXXxxxX XXxxxx XXXXxxxxx wotever!

[jdinasia]

Ah, the Reds have spoken.

What website from China was blocked because of news reporting?

I rather deplore censorship but the cases LP cited above had little to do with censorship of the press and more to do with individuals making stupid choices.

Under Thaksin, it wasn't the "government" censoring (as much) ... it was Thaksin suing anyone that dared speak out against him. It was Thaksin's businesses (that he was supposed to not be involved in -- withdrawing advertising and pressuring other companies to do the same.

Was shutting down People TV correct? YES! Why? They were not delivering news content, they were promoting violence. Had they been smart enough not to tell people what to do themselves and instead just have left a camera and Mic pointed at the red stage they would have had some room to complain.

Face it, the trend of massive censorship really began in 2003. Since then it has been downhill constantly. But in 2003 the government was not dealing with an armed insurrection in Bangkok.

Those of you posting all the xxxxxx's ARE putting TVF at risk by innuendo. Do you care? Probably not.

[yellow1red1]

Ah, the Reds have spoken.

What website from China was blocked because of news reporting?

I rather deplore censorship but the cases LP cited above had little to do with censorship of the press and more to do with individuals making stupid choices.

Under Thaksin, it wasn't the "government" censoring (as much) ... it was Thaksin suing anyone that dared speak out against him. It was Thaksin's businesses (that he was supposed to not be involved in -- withdrawing advertising and pressuring other companies to do the same.

Was shutting down People TV correct? YES! Why? They were not delivering news content, they were promoting violence. Had they been smart enough not to tell people what to do themselves and instead just have left a camera and Mic pointed at the red stage they would have had some room to complain.

Face it, the trend of massive censorship really began in 2003. Since then it has been downhill constantly. But in 2003 the government was not dealing with an armed insurrection in Bangkok.

Those of you posting all the xxxxxx's ARE putting TVF at risk by innuendo. Do you care? Probably not.

NOT 'innuendo' OMG

cencorship get out yer cannons

the inuendoists are coming! the inuendoists are coming!

shoot when you see the xxx of their xxxx

HA ha HA

Edit

began in 2003

< uneducated WOT! name the year, no name the decade, NO name the century when free speech flourished in Thailand , ROFL

(start yer Search with Plaek)

Edited October 23, 2010 by yellow1red1

[rick75]

It confirms my sentence I wrote a few days ago on this forum that Thailand is LESS democratic than 10 years ago.....

...ruled by a Democratic Party alliance Government.

Well done Mr. Abhisit...well done, NOT.

LaoPo

the voice of reason has spoken.

it is rarely I hear you so resolute.

I try to be diplomatic at all times but fail also.

I am fallible, at times, many times, unlike many others on this forum (not personally to you Bizz!).

But, coming to Thailand for more than 30 years I cannot come to another conclusion than having to agree with Reporters without Borders, sadly enough.

Others, who claim it's not as bad are not aware of the dangers in Thailand. Something small, a mistake, a sidestep, even minor, can bring you in jail whilst others, the priviliged, criminals, murderers walk free.

This country has a long, long way to go and is in fact still a third world country but wants to expose itself as a developed and democratic nation.

It's NOT, by far.

It's a country ruled by a few. The happy few.

LaoPo

LaoPo, does speak the truth, for those that say Thailand is a free society, think how many times have you self censored what you have said on this forum.

Or how many times have threads/discussions been shut down for fear of what is being said.

The worst form of censorship exists here in Thailand and they are not afraid to come at you with a big stick if need be.