Thai govt orders German NGO to cancel press freedom briefing

[webfact]

Thai junta orders German NGO to cancel press freedom briefing

AFP

BANGKOK: -- A German rights group said Thursday that it has been ordered by Thailand's junta to cancel a briefing on the health of the kingdom's media landscape, in a growing clampdown on freedom of expression.

The ban came as two former ministers from the ousted government of ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra were summoned by the military, which is escalating its campaign to crush dissent since seizing power last May.

The Friedrich Ebert Foundation said military officers had ordered them not to hold a briefing at a Bangkok hotel on Friday -- part of a series of annual reports looking at the challenges journalists face in different Asian nations.

"It's true, sadly. We were initially told over the phone and then the military went to the hotel and told them that we weren't allowed to hold the event," an employee of the foundation, who asked to remain anonymous, told AFP.

"We have released these reports every year for many years and have not had a problem until now," the employee added.

No junta officials were immediately available for comment.

Thailand's generals seized power in a May coup after months of disruptive, often violent street protests that led to the ousting of Yingluck's democratically-elected government.

An uneasy calm has since returned to the streets, but human rights groups warn that peace has been paid for with the severe curtailment of basic liberties.

Media freedom organisations say both self-censorship and enforced censorship has dramatically increased under martial law, with political gatherings and criticism of the military coup forbidden.

The country's strict lese majeste laws also mean domestic and foreign media outlets must heavily self-censor when reporting on royal issues.

The Friedrich Ebert Foundation -- which has ties to Germany's Social Democratic Party -- describes itself as an organisation promoting "the ideas and principles of social democracy".

Founded in 1925, it has had a presence in Thailand since 1970.

The halting of their briefing came as two former ministers who served under Yingluck were ordered to appear before the military, for yet to be explained reasons.

Chaturon Chaisang, a former education minister, told AFP he had been ordered to report to the First Army Region Headquarters at 3 pm (0800 GMT) but had not been told why.

Ex-foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul was summoned earlier Thursday, junta spokesperson Colonel Winthai Suvaree confirmed. He has since been released.

"We will summon more people," he added.

After last year's coup, Thailand's generals ordered hundreds of people -- including academics, journalists, activists and ex-government ministers -- to report to them.

Many were detained for days and ordered not to speak out against the military.

Chaturon had refused and was eventually arrested in front of a large press pack at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) in Bangkok five days after the coup.

Earlier this week Surapong had met a top US diplomat who made critical comments of the junta during a visit.

Last September organisers of an event at the FCCT on post-coup human rights, including Amnesty International Thailand, were ordered to cancel it.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-01-29

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Well that just confirms that there is no press freedom in Thailand.

[greenchair]

?

[EyesWideOpen]

Ouch......Is it my imagination, or is military control being cranked up ??

The coup started out pretty well with a corruption crackdown which

always makes people happy, but now things seemed to be morphing into

something much darker... :-(

[h90]

Where were all the NGOs when Thaksin complete destroyed the freedom of press?

[PREM-R]

Where were all the NGOs when Thaksin complete destroyed the freedom of press?

Thaksin certainly did not stop the Friedrich Ebert Foundation from making their annual reports, "We have released these reports every year for many years and have not had a problem until now".

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Not so good for Thailands reputation: https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2015/thailand#.VMnopJ2keM9

[casualbiker]

Where were all the NGOs when Thaksin complete destroyed the freedom of press?

Thaksin certainly did not stop the Friedrich Ebert Foundation from making their annual reports, "We have released these reports every year for many years and have not had a problem until now".

Nothing stopping them now. Just not a press conference in Bkk as it's against the current rules! At least they are consistent!

[Morakot]

Take it the junta did carefully study the foundation's Strategy for Democratic Change in Thailand ...

09496-20121217.pdf

[casualbiker]

^^^ only had time to read the overview .. nice big words.. hopefully there is more substance in the actual report!

[CiaranO]

This country is on its way to being like China 15 years ago.

[chainarong]

Well they can always let the Time magazine know about it, mind they would be kicked out of Thailand but then you could always tell the Times about that to., three months of headlines in the Time magazine will blow the lid completely on media freedom in Thailand, however discontent will not be tolerated only happiness, now E/mail Prayuth - O and show how happy you all are .

[Laughing Gravy]

Where were all the NGOs when Thaksin complete destroyed the freedom of press?

It is sad when people have to bring up things of the past to justify themselves. Yes Taksin was a wrong one. But are you saying in your statement that Taksin did something so the present people in power are also OK too. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Why people try to defend something that is immoral, when they should know better, is beyond comprehension.

[chainarong]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Ouch......Is it my imagination, or is military control being cranked up ??

The coup started out pretty well with a corruption crackdown which

always makes people happy, but now things seemed to be morphing into

something much darker... :-(

Can't get any darker than Pre 1992.

[LuckyLew]

Pretty sure this NGO new this would happen

There are no longer is freedom of anything in Thailand

That is the way the military like it and will keep it for as long as possible

Repeal marshall law .... not likely

[Noi657]

Reading some of the thai forums, facebook etc yesterday and many Thais are saying that they are happy and foreign intrusion is not welcome. Hey ho... Crack on!

[FangFerang]

Where were all the NGOs when Thaksin complete destroyed the freedom of press?

Thaksin certainly did not stop the Friedrich Ebert Foundation from making their annual reports, "We have released these reports every year for many years and have not had a problem until now".

Nothing stopping them now. Just not a press conference in Bkk as it's against the current rules! At least they are consistent!

They are not even consistent. Political activists "miraculously appeared" in front of the US embassy today and held a protest .....but no one was arrested, nor dispersed nor warned. Therefore,

Only some political protests are illegal. Only some corrupt police officers are targeted. Only some land encroachment is being enforced. Only some sidewalk vendors downtown are being displaced. Only some illegal LED signs are being removed. Only some gatherings are being forced to cancel. Only some voices are being heard. Only some beach vendors are being shut down. Only some people are being indicted. Only some gambling operations have been stopped. Only some human trafficking has stopped. Only some rice has been marked inedible. Only some words are being said. Only some lies are being told.

Only some truth is being put to death.

Here come the tourists!!!

Edited January 29, 2015 by FangFerang

[Andyfez]

Reporter is obviously anti coup. 'Uneasy calm'? Its the most relaxed calm we've had in several years.

[EyesWideOpen]

Reading some of the thai forums, facebook etc yesterday and many Thais are saying that they are happy and foreign intrusion is not welcome. Hey ho... Crack on!

Well, since Thailand has never really had true freedom of the press , it would stand

to reason they would not miss what they had never enjoyed....

[WhamBam]

Control the truth as others see it until the only truth is your truth.

Those that disagree with your truth - send them for some training.

[garrya]

I do hope they will ignore them and release whatever they have.

[baboon]

Another day, another troublesome story and still the fanbois are jubilant. I wonder what it will take for some of them to even have an inkling of doubt as to what is transpiring - it is truly worrying that they seem not to.

[laocowboy2]

Smart move - assures many column inches of negative press coverage in Germany - and probably on TV too. All over something that hardly anyone knew was happening - and to which even fewer would be intending. No wonder people say military intelligence is an oxymoron.

[Muirton]

"We can talk about anything, …. so long as we glorify it."

Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn, Gulag Arichipelago

[Suffinator]

For all those who think the Junta and the General have done a great job are you now prepared to see the truth?

The very pillar of freedom is the right to express your opinions freely and this is clearly being oppressed. It's time the UN stated with some heavy sanctions, tourists stopping coming, foreign expats left and foreign investment pulled out ... any such involvement only fuels the military's ability to hold on to power.

[WhizBang]

Oh Lordy, the junta just made the NGO's point.

[Bluespunk]

deleted

Edited January 29, 2015 by Bluespunk

[tragickingdom]

It is clear that the junta is understandable nervous. Just like any country under military rule, the economy is slowly destroyed, people laugh at the one man shows of the leader on Friday, while the sound is turned off in bars, restaurants and other homes. The Anti Democrat party is the only party happy with the junta they might now even win an election (sort of). In the meantime double standards is the name of the game. Demonstrations are allowed in front of the US embassy but supporters of the legitimate deposed government are told to shut up and report for behaviour re-adjustment.

[car720]

Ouch......Is it my imagination, or is military control being cranked up ??

The coup started out pretty well with a corruption crackdown which

always makes people happy, but now things seemed to be morphing into

something much darker... :-(

but why do people always think this is the first time.

[MobileContent]

Where were all the NGOs when Thaksin complete destroyed the freedom of press?

The Friedrich Ebert Foundation wrote some very nasty white papers about the Thaksin regime and certainly on restriction of press freedom, buying of the media companies (ITV) etc.

I know them very well and often popped by their office for a coffee and make use of their library.

They suffered greatly during the Nazi years. Many of those students and leaders were send to the concentration camps when Hitler came to power.

As the FEF is affiliated with the SPD and they use Thailand as a base for the annual reporting of each country in Asia I think the Thai Army should be a bit more careful, otherwise they might can export their products only to Asia and possible have problems with the E.U.

Furthermore the German Foreign Minister is from the SPD and the Deputy Chancellor is SPD too.

My guess will be a diplomatic protest is currently been evaluated and the Thai Ambassador will be called in to the German Foreign Department.

I would say Thailand goes very backwards and this is just the start.