Land reform group forced to cancel press conference

[webfact]

RESTRICTION OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Land reform group forced to cancel press conference
The Nation


An event is held yesterday at the October 14, 1973 Memorial off Rajdamnoen Avenue to symbolically protest against the junta

BANGKOK: -- The authorities made another move yesterday to prohibit freedom of expression, forcing a group of social activists to cancel a press conference. The move came while a controversy over media intervention at Thai PBS has yet to be settled.

Nitirat Sapsomboon and his group, who campaign for legal and land reform, were taken to Chana Songkram Police Station after resisting an order to halt a press conference planned at the October 14 memorial in Bangkok.

The group said it needed to hold the press conference to give their account after an order by the military to shut down a public forum on "Thailand and Inequality", which focused on land reform. The event was set to be held at Alliance Francaise yesterday.

Nitirat and his group were held for questioning at the police station for a few hours before being released.

The group would not give up their activity, Nitirat said, noting that "the authorities asked us to submit the proposal before the forum is held. So, we might have to adjust the theme to ensure it will work".

He said the authorities also asked for cooperation - for them not to do things that could lead to political conflict.

The talk on land reform had to be cancelled, as the military feared some speakers may provoke different ideas on land reform being carried out by the junta's National Reform Council.

Last week, a march from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, arranged by the Northern Peasant Federation and called "First Step for Land Reform", was also called off. The movement was in response to the Prayut administration's crackdown on forest encroachment by investors, influential figures and illegal loggers.

In September, the authorities stepped in to stop a march from Surat Thani to Bangkok by activists demanding energy reform being undertaken by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

The latest move to block freedom of expression happened only a day after military intervention over a television programme at Thai PBS.

The TV station - a public broadcaster - and its journalists yesterday launched a campaign to end such intervention and asked for freedom of expression. They said the authorities should not gag the media and public while proceeding with national reforms. The suspension of TV host Nattaya Wawweerakup from her show "People's Voices Must Be Heard before Reforms" was an attempt to take care of every agency on any issue could lead to confusion or conflict, he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Land-reform-group-forced-to-cancel-press-conferenc-30247903.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-17

[chooka]

Only side is allowed to be given to the people and that is the junta propaganda rubbish being forced onto the people.

Edited November 16, 2014 by chooka

[englishoak]

Ive nothing further to add to that sum up chooka.

[noitom]

What a stunning Thai news photo - Thai boots on the ground.

[ExPratt]

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Only side is allowed to be given to the people and that is the propaganda rubbish being forced onto the people.

I think you may have to withdraw that statement . In an opinion poll taken after the press conference was canceled 98% of people said they agreed with the cancellation and they would like the Junta to carry on performing these kind of miracles for the foreseeable future

[Suriya4]

To return happiness to the people, all thais are advised to be obedient or else arrested. Protest or gathering more than 4 is against the law while the country is in crisis.

[RustBucket]

If people want to hold these forums and meeting etc... They should be careful of how they name the theme.

I found it a very good strategy to use certain buzz words in the title to make it look like the Junta are completely against 'democracy'. So I would have titled the meeting 'Democracy, and its effects on freedom of speech'.

That gives the outside world a clearer view of what the Junta are destroying in Thailand in a systematic way.

The use of 'democracy or Democratic' in all of these forums and meetings will sure be a headache from the Junta who do not want to be seen by the likes of the UN, EU or human rights organisations as dismantling democracy for their own ends. That is sanctions territory and they know it.

Just my twisted thoughts on the matter.

[HUAHIN62]

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Only side is allowed to be given to the people and that is the propaganda rubbish being forced onto the people.

I think you may have to withdraw that statement . In an opinion poll taken after the press conference was canceled 98% of people said they agreed with the cancellation and they would like the Junta to carry on performing these kind of miracles for the foreseeable future

If you believe that you believe in santa. What do you do with a gun to your head, you agree but your hate increase and you vow to fight another day.

[thailiketoo]

Were the people having the protest representing the illegal loggers or did I read that wrong?

[billd766]

Only side is allowed to be given to the people and that is the junta propaganda rubbish being forced onto the people.

Unlike the truth spoken by the PTP who never ever told a lie.

[rickirs]

"The talk on land reform had to be cancelled, as the military feared some speakers may provoke different ideas on land reform being carried out by the junta's National Reform Council."

That is about the most honest and accurate statement I've seen. For all its might the military fears the People. The junta's idea of reform is to make it a one-eyed person in a land of the blind.

[iReason]

"The authorities made another move yesterday to prohibit freedom of expression..."

"The talk on land reform had to be cancelled, as the military feared some speakers may provoke different ideas on land reform being carried out by the junta's National Reform Council."

The latest move to block freedom of expression happened only a day after military intervention over a television programme at Thai PBS."

Fascism.

[maidee]

land of the free ?

[thailiketoo]

From the OP, "Last week, a march from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, arranged by the Northern Peasant Federation and called "First Step for Land Reform", was also called off. The movement was in response to the Prayut administration's crackdown on forest encroachment by investors, influential figures and illegal loggers"

Were the people having the protest representing the illegal loggers or did I read the above wrong?

[Fat Haggis]

To return happiness to the people, all thais are advised to be obedient or else arrested. Protest or gathering more than 4 is against the law while the country is in crisis.

What crisis? 93% of the population are happy apparently, doesn't sound much like a crisis to me, but if you want to talk about THAI airways losing a Billion Baht, that to me sounds more like a crisis that needs more urgent attention!!

First off sack the entire board of current Military and former Military personnel for starters them get the PM to give Richard Branson a call and then have the Tourist Minister get him to take loads of selfies!!

Crisis? No crisis in Thailand according to to the polls so what are you babbling about Suriya ? ?