NCPO urged to reconsider decision on media forum
The Nation,
Agence France-Presse

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) yesterday called on the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to reconsider its order postponing a symposium on media freedom scheduled for today.

TJA vice president Manop Thip-osod said it was unfortunate that the junta had asked TJA and co-host Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), to defer the launch of the 2014 Asian Media Barometer Report on Thailand.

Manop also voiced concerns about basic freedom of expression in Thailand at present, saying that though the NCPO is concerned about peace and order, it should also consider the possible repercussions of its decision, which is not beneficial to the Kingdom's image.

He said the NCPO should be careful as the international community is watching Thailand.

The foundation, meanwhile, said yesterday that it had been ordered by the junta to cancel the briefing on the health of Thailand's media landscape, which is part of 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.

"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."

No junta officials were immediately available for comment.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/NCPO-urged-to-reconsider-decision-on-media-forum-30252984.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-30

Cannot, You Not Do !

The findings etc would not be palatable.

Cannot, Media "Finished"

The international community is not watching Thailand at all.

Certain event outcomes are being watched by international media only.

On the whole, the international community couldn't give a rat's ass about Thailand - more egotistical dribble and self-important narcissim (slightly unexagerrated 55).

How dare the people of Thailand want freedom of speech ... who do they think they are

Oh well...... careful what you ask for media and being silent when you were most needed, you just got a dose of it and probably more to come.....

With Phua Thai MPs being summoned and given warnings by the "Govt" (and hence being silenced), it is now up to the Democrats to speak up in support of freedom of speech. Although this would earn them brownie points and distance themselves from the increasingly-unpopular "Govt" (approval rating now less than the all-time high of 90+%), I'm not holding my b.

Is it not time for the Thai Researchers for Community Happiness to jump in with poll results showing the press etc are completely free so just get back to being happy ?

Ah the Ugly German

A few months before the coup, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation published a very interesting document on possible ways to solve the conflict in Thailand, maybe the NCPO could read it ....secretely... to get some inspiration.

The Nation 2014-11-22

"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha asserted yesterday that his government was not dictatorial although he admitted that it "may not be 100 per cent democratic". “I’m not a dictator, he said angrily.”

Half right or half wrong?