Newspaper, Internet Site Gagged By Thaksin

[george]

Court issues gag order on Sondhi

BANGKOK: -- The Civil Court Thursday issued a gag order on Sondhi Limthongkul, the owner of The Manager, as well as all of his publications from criticising Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The gag order was based on a defamation suit filed against Sondhi by Thaksin’s lawyers Thursday.

Thaksin’s lawyers asked the court to issue an injunction to prevent Sondhi from making further damages to Thakin pending the trial of the case.

The gag order was issued against Sondhi and 11 other associates. The publications under the ban included Thai Day, The Manager daily and his electronic media, such as video CDs, and Internet publication.

The gag order came just a day before Sondhi holds his weekly talk show, Thailand Weekly, at Lumpini Park on Friday.

Sondhi always criticised Thaksin during the weekly talk show, which is broadcast live through his satellite TV channel and his The Manage Web site (www.manager.co.th).

But The Manager Web site announced through its breaking news that it had learnt from a well-informed source in the Cat Telecom Plc that access to the site would be blocked starting Friday.

Earlier, the Public Relations Department has ordered cable TV stations in provinces not to relay feeds from Sondhi’s satellite TV channel.

--The Nation 2005-11-17

[astral]

SHAME upon the government!!

[marquess]

Court issues gag order on Sondhi

BANGKOK: -- The Civil Court Thursday issued a gag order on Sondhi Limthongkul, the owner of The Manager, as well as all of his publications from criticising Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The gag order was based on a defamation suit filed against Sondhi by Thaksin’s lawyers Thursday.

Thaksin’s lawyers asked the court to issue an injunction to prevent Sondhi from making further damages to Thakin pending the trial of the case.

The gag order was issued against Sondhi and 11 other associates. The publications under the ban included Thai Day, The Manager daily and his electronic media, such as video CDs, and Internet publication.

The gag order came just a day before Sondhi holds his weekly talk show, Thailand Weekly, at Lumpini Park on Friday.

Sondhi always criticised Thaksin during the weekly talk show, which is broadcast live through his satellite TV channel and his The Manage Web site (www.manager.co.th).

But The Manager Web site announced through its breaking news that it had learnt from a well-informed source in the Cat Telecom Plc that access to the site would be blocked starting Friday.

Earlier, the Public Relations Department has ordered cable TV stations in provinces not to relay feeds from Sondhi’s satellite TV channel.

--The Nation 2005-11-17

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This a joke! Surely it is part of the course to come under criticism if your in public office? If you can't take the heat then you should get out of the kitchen

Edited November 17, 2005 by marquess

[george]

Thai Rak Thai MP wants ICT to take action against The Manager's Web site

BANGKOK: -- A Thai Rak Thai Party MP Thursday called on the Information and Communication Technology Ministry to take legal action against The Manager daily's Web site for allegedly involving the monarchy to politics.

Wichit Plungsrisakul, chairman of the Thai Rak Thai's legal working committee, said the website had been publishing a picture of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra inside the Temple of Emerald Buddha for weeks and allowed the people to make comments against the prime minister under the picture.

Wichit said the website alleged that Thaksin had used the temple to preside over a merit making ceremony although the temple should have been used only by the royal family. Wichit said the website would not remove the picture and the allegation although the government had explained that it had obtained permission from the Royal Household Bureau to use the temple.

"If no action is taken against the Web site, it will set a bad precedence for others," Wichit said.

"So the ICT Ministry will have to take action now that the Web site has committed wrongdoing."

--The Nation 2005-11-17

[frodo]

Wichit Plungsrisakul, chairman of the Thai Rak Thai's legal working committee, said the website had been publishing a picture of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra inside the Temple of Emerald Buddha for weeks and allowed the people to make comments against the prime minister under the picture. If the comments were favorable, would Wichit still have the feather up his ***? I have to wonder where this guys head really is. On second thought, maybe I don't want to know since it seems so far up...

"If no action is taken against the Web site, it will set a bad precedence for others," Wichit said. Which reads, you cannot say or write anything the PM deems negative gainst him, even though a few days back he insisted people are free to critisize him as long as it doesn't include threats against the nation, insults to the monarchy, or his family. Waffle, waffle, waffle.

"So the ICT Ministry will have to take action now that the Web site has committed wrongdoing." Wichit says a wrongdoing has been comitted, therefore, it must be true. Thank you Mr. Wichit who is now the self appointed judge, jury, and executioner.

[george]

Most people say news media not free

BANGKOK: -- Most residents of greater Bangkok are not convinced that the Government allows Thai news media the freedom to inform the public, according to a survey conducted by Assumption University.

The university's Abac Poll found that almost 35 per cent of respondents are not sure the news media have the freedom they need because the government can intervene in their work.

Only 15.1 per cent of respondents believe the government gives the media full freedom.

The survey questioned 1,282 people in Bangkok from last Friday through to Wednesday. Fifty-five per cent of them were women and 45 per cent men.

Nearly 45 per cent of respondents said they trust Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra because he intends to develop the country. However, 19.4 per cent said they cannot trust him because he has failed to solve government-related scandals.

More than 44 per cent said they have faith in Thai Rak Thai, while 36.5 per cent rely on the Democrats and 23.5 per cent trust Chat Thai.

--The Nation 2005-11-17

[Abandon]

The BBC are closing down the thai service due to concerns about freedom of speech (amonst other reasons) From the General forum ...

THAILAND: Declining freedom of speech; Media concentration

It comes at completely the wrong time for Thailand, where

threats to emerging independent media have increased dramatically.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The AHRC has been among many other groups and individuals to warn

about growing threats to freedom of expression and independent media

in Thailand during recent times. For instance, it has pointed to the

criminal case against Supinya Klangnarong and the editors of the Thai

Post newspaper for allegedly defaming the corporation belonging to the

family of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (UP-111-2005

{http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2005/1261/}). Its sister

organization, the Asian Legal Resource Centre, has expressed its

concerns regarding growing restrictions on freedom of expression--in

particular, actions against the burgeoning community radio movement

in Thailand--to the UN Human Rights Committee .....

.... "Institutionalized torture, extrajudicial killings & uneven

application of law in Thailand

the Committee expressed

concern at "reports of intimidation and harassment against local and

foreign journalists and media personnel as well as of defamation

suits against them, originating at the highest political level"

More recently, the prime minister has initiated new defamation suits

against media owners and professionals (see related news article

{http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=3&id=121684&usrsess=}),

while the bulk of Thailand's electronic media has remained in the

hands of the national leadership, armed forces and civilian

administration. Legal action is also commencing against some persons

who set up community radio stations in accordance with a new

provision under the 1997 Constitution of Thailand. International media group Reporters without Borders has

also said that media conditions in Thailand are worsening, and ranked

the country as 107 out of 167 countries assessed for their media

freedom in 2005.

[haha]

freedom of speech is a very powerful concept that must be respected.

..but it shouldn't be used as a shield for those who which to "slander" others.

in the states, there are laws against slander.

[OxfordWill]

Unbelievable.

[thaibebop]

I do not agree or disagree with what the PM and the Thai Rak Thai party is doing, however, I wonder if anyone here as ever thought that this system of government the Thais are useing is still very new to the country? It is not a perfect to begin with and it's a western system trying to work in an Asian country. Things might not always be smooth but that doesn't mean everything has gone too sh1t either. Just a thought.

[Guest endure]

I do not agree or disagree with what the PM and the Thai Rak Thai party is doing, however, I wonder if anyone here as ever thought that this system of government the Thais are useing is still very new to the country? It is not a perfect to begin with and it's a western system trying to work in an Asian country. Things might not always be smooth but that doesn't mean everything has gone too sh1t either. Just a thought.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm willing to buy your assertion that it's a new form of goverment and is still bedding in but I'm not willing to agree that Asians are entitled to any lesser form of democracy that the rest of us

[ProfessorFart]

To say that this is a new system of government is a nonsense. True there may be this self made man at the top of the tree, democratically elected and styling himself on Blair with his casual clothing and hand gestures, however all he has done since he got into power is to crush his opponents and dissenting voices.

That to me reeks of a very familiar style of leadership in modern Thai politics, namely that of Sarit Thannarat.

[thaibebop]

I do not agree or disagree with what the PM and the Thai Rak Thai party is doing, however, I wonder if anyone here as ever thought that this system of government the Thais are useing is still very new to the country? It is not a perfect to begin with and it's a western system trying to work in an Asian country. Things might not always be smooth but that doesn't mean everything has gone too sh1t either. Just a thought.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm willing to buy your assertion that it's a new form of goverment and is still bedding in but I'm not willing to agree that Asians are entitled to any lesser form of democracy that the rest of us

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

True, but it took decades to get where western governments are today and how the people respond to them. All western countries have undergone the same issues through those decades as well. So, I am saying that people need to keep the pressure on and given time things will be better but to start condemning the whole country by saying that they will never get to were the west is or something along those lines is little unfair. At least I think so.

To say that this is a new system of government is a nonsense. True there may be this self made man at the top of the tree, democratically elected and styling himself on Blair with his casual clothing and hand gestures, however all he has done since he got into power is to crush his opponents and dissenting voices.

That to me reeks of a very familiar style of leadership in modern Thai politics, namely that of Sarit Thannarat.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The country was under a military dictatorship just a few decades back. How do you define new?

Edited November 18, 2005 by thaibebop

[ProfessorFart]

You can dress it up anyway you like but a dictatorship is still a dictatorship when they obliterate all means of opposition.

Apply existing models of dictatorships, millitary or otherwise, to this current regime and then tell me how you define new. All you have to do is to look at two of the worst dictators of the post 1932 era for some glaringly disturbing indicators that politics and government have indeed changed little in Thailand. Both Sarit and Puibulsongkram imprisioned and persecuted their opponents, silenced the media and were hel_l bent on social reforms. Let us not fool ourselves here.

I don't think anyone is condemning the whole country Thaibebop. More the minority who are in government.

[Jai Dee]

ASTV SIGNAL FROZEN DUE TO ILLEGAL OPERATION

Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Krua-ngam(วิษณุ เครืองาม ) said that the cessation of ASTV satellite News 1 braodcasting " Thailand Weekly" program, was due to illegal operation.

Mr. Visanu spoke explained to the association of cable television explaining why television show entitled "Thailand Weekly" hosted by Manager newspaper founder Sonthi Limthongkul (นายสนธิ ลิ้มทองกุล ) has been ceased. He said it was not due to the alleged fact that the TV program contains criticisms of the Thai government.

He added that the program did not obtain permission to air the program.

The Deputy Prime Minister revealed that on Friday he would appear on TV to inform and clarify various issues, however he has not declared what topics he will be addressing.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 November 2005

[Butterfly]

This is what happened when you put CEOs or self-made billionaires at the top. Never trust businessmen to run a country effectively. They just can't. Politics and company politics are two different things.

[stumonster]

This is what happened when you put CEOs or self-made billionaires at the top. Never trust businessmen to run a country effectively. They just can't. Politics and company politics are two different things.

you mean unmitigated greed and self delusion are not compatible with leading people - this problem is not just a thai issue....

[TokyoT]

I guess “Land of the Free” has nothing to do with Freedom of speech, and Freedom of the press?

[lomatopo]

In an article in today's Bangkok Post there is a story titled, "PM sues Sondhi for another B1bn "

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/18Nov2005_news56.php

It is interesting to me that "The court set Feb 8 for examining the lawsuit and ordered the 10 to leave a two-million-baht damages deposit and stop criticising Mr Thaksin,..."

So the Defendent has to pay, and must stop criticising the plaintiff at least until Feb 8 (of next year presumably?). What's to prevent Plaintiffs from suing anyone, possibly forcing them into debt (to pay the deposits), and muzzling them until a hearing? I assume the judicial branch of the government is empowered, by the Constitution, and is independent so that such a thing could not happen?

[OxfordWill]

We'll have to check with Plato again but I'm pretty sure it wasn't the businessmen who were supposed to be kings.

[thaibebop]

We'll have to check with Plato again but I'm pretty sure it wasn't the businessmen who were supposed to be kings.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does Thailand have any philosophers, because America is fresh out.

[Tomissan]

I guess “Land of the Free” has nothing to do with Freedom of speech, and Freedom of the press?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thaksin's Thailand: Who Needs Press Freedoms?

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must be taking lessons from Lee Kuan Yew down in Singapore, as he brings out his dictatorial, uptight, self-righteous inner being, and starts to sue anybody and everything that offends his holiness.

http://friskodude.blogspot.com/2005/11/tha...eeds-press.html

[Kringle]

I find it very funny that TV forum is so afraid of what the government will say or do about any kinds of T&A on this forum but could care less what anyone says about taksin, his family or his cronies.

[Jai Dee]

Sondhi talk show draws 50,000

Media tycoon launches tirade against PM for power abuse, gagging freedom of press

More than 50,000 people braved the rain last night, packing Lumpini park to listen to firebrand media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul, who has continued to host his Muang Thai Rai Sapda (Thailand Weekly) talk show after it was taken off TV Channel 9 after its relentless criticism of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Last night's theme focused on the government's alleged attempts to suppress freedom of expression and its abuse of power for personal gain as Mr Sondhi's attack on Mr Thaksin continued.

Mr Sondhi hammered what he said were government attempts to suppress freedom of the press.

The talk show took over Lumpini Hall inside the park from 6pm to 8.30pm with Mr Sondhi and his co-host Sarocha Porn-udomsak on stage. The hall was able to accommodate about 3,000 people and the rest spilled outside and into the park, protecting themselves from the rain with umbrellas and plastic bags.

Staff of the Manager daily were seen distributing copies of a photograph of Mr Thaksin performing a ceremony inside the main chapel of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, normally reserved for religious functions of the Royal Family.

Mr Sondhi began by complaining that authorities were trying to obstruct his talk show by deploying hooligans, interrupting the power supply and spreading rumours that he and Miss Sarocha would be kidnapped.

He also claimed that his appointments to speak upcountry had been cancelled.

Projectors installed at the venue then screened Mr Thaksin previously making a promise to protect press freedom.

Mr Sondhi urged people to fight to have free access to information. He said the government had no authority to deprive them of this constitutional right.

He urged the public nationwide to file lawsuits with the Administrative Court against the government and the Public Relations Department for threatening this right to information, citing the PRD's order for local cable TV operators to refrain from broadcasting any programme that criticised the government.

Mr Sondhi also slammed the privatisation of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand as a plan to put dams, water and transmission lines, which were public property, in the hands of only a few people.

Before Egat, Thai Airways International (THAI) had been pressured to hand over its profitable routes to some low-cost airlines, he said. There were now plans for THAI to delegate its businesses to subsidiaries which could then be taken over by private investors while there was also a plan to take over Don Muang airport, he claimed.

The privatisation of state enterprises under the tenure of this government was aimed at benefiting particular groups of people as it targeted only profitable state enterprises, he said.

The media tycoon then launched into a personal attack against the prime minister.

He claimed, without providing evidence, that an air force C-130 transport airplane had been used to carry guests to a house-warming party for Monthathip Shinawatra, a younger sister of Mr Thaksin, in Doi Saket district, Chiang Mai, on Nov 14.

"This case is like the Thung Yai Naresuan case when Col Narong Kittikachorn, the son of Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn, took a group of actors for airborne hunting in Thung Yai Naresuan wildlife sanctuary. This is a digital version of Thung Yai," he said.

The Thung Yai incident eventually galvanised public opposition to the military dictatorship at the time, leading to the Oct 14, 1973 uprising.

Mr Sondhi also said Mr Thaksin was close to a 51-year-old Chinese business tycoon called Yian Ping as the prime minister had visited his golf course and planted a tree there during his recent visit to China.

A photograph of Mr Thaksin's visit to the golf course was then screened.

According to Mr Sondhi, there is no evidence to prove when Mr Yian obtained his Thai citizenship. The businessman has his Thai name, "Charnchai", and settled down in Thailand in 1984.

This year, Mr Yian was announced as the 30th richest man in Shanghai with his wealth put at 17.5 billion baht.

Mr Yain describes himself in Thai on his namecard as a Beijing-based adviser to the Thai prime minister and the chairman of the Thai Rak Thai branch in Beijing, Mr Sondhi said.

"All this the people have the right to know, but they must have free access to information," he said.

Source: Bangkok Post - Saturday 19 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

Top brass warn off Manager founder

The military top brass have expressed dissatisfaction with Manager daily founder Sondhi Limthongkul for his persistent mentioning of His Majesty the King in his campaign against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, saying their patience has limits.

"One day when we can no longer tolerate this, we will have to do something. But I cannot yet tell what it is," Supreme Commander Gen Ruengroj Mahasaranont said yesterday.

Asked to comment on Mr Sondhi's remarks about His Majesty to support his campaign, Gen Ruengroj said everybody in the country loves the King and people of different backgrounds have different ways of expressing their loyalty to the monarchy.

"I think the best way is for us not to do anything that could offend His Majesty or cause him to be unhappy. People can do anything they want, but should not mention the King to support their action," he said.

To show loyalty to the King, people should be united and stop quarrelling. The supreme commander said he did not mean to criticise Mr Sondhi in particular but anybody who did the same.

Army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin said all soldiers are loyal to His Majesty and feel duty-bound to protect the monarchy. "We soldiers don't want to see anyone mentioning His Majesty in an inappropriate way. There's a limit to everyone's patience." He declined to comment on Mr Sondhi's political stance, saying soldiers are no longer involved in politics.

"Gone is the era when soldiers staged coups," Gen Sondhi said, when asked if he meant soldiers would not stage a coup.

Air force chief ACM Chalit Phukphasuk said he would like to ask people to stop doing anything that could offend His Majesty.

"I think His Majesty is not happy with what is going on, and it is annoying him. We should find an end to this matter," he said. Navy chief Adm Sathiraphan Keyanond said he too was not happy the King had been drawn into the conflict [between Mr Sondhi and Mr Thaksin].

But Senator Chirmsak Pinthong said claims that Mr Sondhi had offended the King were unsubstantiated because most people, including himself, did not agree that Mr Sondhi was showing a lack of respect for the monarchy.

On Gen Ruengroj's remarks that the military's patience was running thin, Mr Chirmsak said a soldier with power in his hands should not have said anything in a threatening way against Mr Sondhi, who would only win more support and sympathy. Mr Chirmsak said what Mr Sondhi was doing was good, adding that he himself wanted to say what Mr Sondhi was saying but lacked the courage.

Soldiers should bear in mind that although the military had overthrown many governments before, they would never win if they waged war with the people.

Sukhum Nualsakul, a political scientist, said Mr Sondhi should stop citing the monarchy to protect himself. Soldiers, too, should remember that with power in their hands they used to do great harm to democracy. They should not say anything that could cause people to have suspicion in them.

"Soldiers should have learned from past lessons and realised that it is no longer appropriate for them to speak in such a manner," Mr Sukhum said.

Source: Bangkok Post - Saturday 19 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

Modern media subverts Sondhi ban

Excerpt from The Nation - Published on November 19, 2005

Hundreds of thousands of people who could not make it to Lumpini Park in downtown Bangkok yesterday to listen to Sondhi Limthongkul’s rally against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra stayed home and watched the ASTV1 cable channel broadcast via satellite.

Others were glued to the live broadcast of the Sondhi talk show via the manager.co.th site on the Internet. And discussions were frantically heating up on the local websites, notably Pantip.com.

Welcome to a world of new media.

The government’s attempt to silence Sondhi from slamming the premier has been futile in the face of new, sophisticated technologies that are proving to have a profound impact on the Thai political landscape. The government may control the broadcast media, but it has yet to effectively control the proliferation of the local cable news networks and the Internet, which has become a fertile ground for anti-Thaksin campaigning.

Satellite cable TV and the Internet are a far cry from the microphones and loud speakers of the 1970s and the mobile phones of the early 1990s. In 1973, during the student uprising that toppled the Thanom-Prapas regime and ushered Thailand into a modern era of democracy, Thammasat University was the pre-eminent political theatre, linked to the vast field of Sanam Luang and Rajdamnoen Road. Then microphones and loudspeakers were the simple tools that progressive students like Thirayuth Boonmee and Seksan Prasertkul spoke through to agitate the tens of thousands against the military dictatorship. These rudimentary tools were effective enough to convey the appealing message for democracy and triggered hundred of thousands of people to take the demonstrations to Rajdamnoen Road. The Thanom-Prapas regime collapsed eventually.

In 1992, during the pro-democracy movement launched by Maj-General Chamlong Srimuang against the Suchinda regime, mobile phones made their appearance for the first time. Middle-class Thais communicating with each other through the mobile phones took part in the pro-democracy movement in support of Chamlong. They were dissatisfied with the dictatorship regime of General Suchinda Kraprayoon. Suchinda lost the battle to what has come to be known as the “mobile phone mob”.

Now the political theatre has shifted from the traditional ground of Thammasat University, Sanam Luang and Rajdamnoen Road to Lumpini Park in downtown Bangkok. The park is only a block away from Silom Road, Bangkok’s financial centre. Thousands of people, many clad in yellow T-shirts as a display of solidarity, gathered at the park to watch Sondhi’s talk show.

The number in his audience seems to grow every Friday since the banning of Sondhi’s TV programme, “Maung Thai Rai Sapda”, by the government.

Sondhi, boss of the Manager Group, has launched what seems to be a solo campaign to oust Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from office. First, he banked on the theme of “Fighting for His Majesty the King”. His aim was to create a movement to oust the Thaksin regime and to write a new constitution. He has been now shifting his strategy of exposing the government’s conflicts of interest via business dealings and shady privatisation deals.

By 16:30 hours, hundreds of people began to roam Lumpini Park. In spite of a drizzle, they came from all walks of life, ranging from students in uniform to the elderly.

Former Bangkok governor candidate Leena Chang Chanya said she had prepared banners for a final demonstration after the conclusion of the programme in front of the Rama IX monument as a display of people power for the prime minister to see.

“He is a megalomaniac. We are here to demand our power and voice back. The PM should not underestimate the people and censure the media,’’ Leena said.

About 300 police were deployed to keep security at the event. No serious incidents took place.

The Public Relations Department instructed cable TV stations in the provinces not to relay satellite feeds from ASTV1 that broadcasts Sondhi’s talk show. Yet local residents in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai and Khon Kaen refused to give up.

Yesterday they organised themselves in front of huge openair projectors to watch the programme via satellite. Phujadkarn’s provincial bureaus provided the projectors.

[sleepyjohn]

As well as the bomb that went off at Sonthi's office recently, last night a device was exploded near the venue airing Sonthi's broadcast last night in Chiangmai. Intimidation? Police said it may have been a firecracker. The truth remains to be seen.

[Golf]

As well as the bomb that went off at Sonthi's office recently, last night a device was exploded near the venue airing Sonthi's broadcast last night in Chiangmai. Intimidation? Police said it may have been a firecracker. The truth remains to be seen.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Firecracker? Thai police are the best in the world as being axxxxss lickers! Toxin also an ex-police. That's why he put police forces in the South. Mr. Sonthi has survived many assasination attempts in the past. He will make it to the end, I believe.

Golf

[richard10365]

Whenever I read the "Bangkok Post" or especially "The Nation" I feel as if the stories are half opinionated and half fact. Their stories are full of their reporters personal views. These newspapers headlines at times seem to me to be more fictional and fantasy than fact. It is hard to tell what is true and what is false when it comes to Thailand's English language newspapers.

In an environment like this, I can see why some of censure is needed.

Edited November 19, 2005 by richard10365

[lomatopo]

Whenever I read the "Bangkok Post" or especially "The Nation" I feel as if the stories are half opinionated and half fact. Their stories are full of their reporters personal views. These newspapers headlines at times seem to me to be more fictional and fantasy than fact. It is hard to tell what is true and what is false when it comes to Thailand's English language newspapers.

In an environment like this, I can see why some of censure is needed.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can you give any recent examples, so that we can review them? Censorship of the press, other than that which is self-imposed, is, as far as I am aware, forbidden by the Constitution here in Thailand. Are you suggesting the Constitution be modified? Or are you suggesting the Government should ignore the Constitution they're likely to have pledged to enforce? (The latter seems to occur hourly of late.) (By the way, I think you meant 'censorship' rather than 'censure', unless you were calling for the condemnation, assignment of blame or reprimand of those making potentially false satements?)

In your experience is the English language press different in anyway from the Thai language press?

I only read the Bangkok Post, so my experience may be limited. To me it seems like the articles are entirely 'factual' however 'facts' and opinions are usually presented by a third party, rather than by the newspaper or the writer/editor, as in "The PM said ....", "Sondhi said that...", "The Government minister said...". I think that the fear of potentially harming somone, or causing them to suffer a loss of respect, or even retribution, limits, conciously or subconciously, what they are willing to print. Other than the airport runway crack article in the Bangkok Post (in which an unamed American source was quoted as saying the runway(s) was unsuitable for use and would have to be completely replaced), I honestly do not recall any obviously or potentially false articles. Opinions seem to be limited to those pages, Op Ed, letters to the editor, where they are perfectly acceptable. Opinions expressed by public figures, in public, can be included in news articles.