HRW urges Thailand to drop charges against Phuket journalists

[Lite Beer]

HRW urges Thailand to drop charges against Phuket journalists
The Nation

PHUKET: -- The Thai authorities are urged to drop criminal proceedings against two journalists for reporting on trafficking of ethnic Rohingya "boat people", Human Rights Watch said today.

"The Thai authorities should direct the navy to unconditionally drop its baseless charges against the two journalists," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "This effort to silence media criticism has backfired against the navy, which should act swiftly to cut its losses."

Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian, the editor and correspondent of the news website Phuketwan, were charged one year ago, on April 17, 2014, with criminal defamation and the Computer Crimes Act based on a complaint filed by the Thai navy.

If convicted on the criminal defamation charges, Morison and Sidasathian could be imprisoned for up to two years. Under the Computer Crime Act, they face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to Bt100,000 (US$3,125). They are scheduled to go to trial on July 14-16.

The charges centered on a paragraph in the Phuketwan online newspaper on July 17, 2013, that cited a Reuters investigative report alleging that some navy officials "work systematically with smugglers to profit from the surge in fleeing Rohingya," and that they earn about Bt2,000 (US$63) per Rohingya "for spotting a boat or turning a blind eye." The report was part of a Reuters investigative series on the plight of the Rohingya, an oppressed Muslim minority in Burma, that won a Pulitzer Prize.

In the statement released by its New York office, Human Rights Watch said that criminal defamation laws should be abolished, as criminal penalties are always disproportionate punishments for reputational harm and infringe on free expression.

"Criminal defamation laws are open to easy abuse, resulting in very harsh consequences, including imprisonment. As repeal of criminal defamation laws in an increasing number of countries shows, such laws are not necessary for the purpose of protecting reputations," it said.

It furthered that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Thailand has ratified, guarantees the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to impart information. The United Nations Human Rights Committee, which monitors state compliance with the covenant, has expressed its concern at the misuse of defamation laws to criminalize freedom of expression and has said that such laws should never be used when expression is without malice and in the public interest.

"The Phuketwan journalists are among the few who are still regularly reporting on the pervasive human trafficking of Rohingya in Thailand," Adams said. "Thailand's efforts to show progress in tackling human trafficking are seriously damaged by this shoot-the-messenger action against journalists exposing abuses."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/HRW-urges-Thailand-to-drop-charges-against-Phuket--30258200.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-17

[Just1Voice]

But....but....but...they HAVE to be sued. They are dumb farang who made Wonderful Thailand, and the outstanding Royal Thai Navy lose all important face!!!

[chooka]

The ruling Junta won't drop these charges against the media as they will lose face and some of these Navy officials may be serving in Prayuth's cabinet. Dropping the charges against the aussie who merely repeated what another wrote would go a long way in restoring Thai/Australian relationship but it is all about face. Keeping a lid on the Junta's involvement in human trafficking is also important.

[hansgruber]

As a westerner, you shouldn't get involved in local affairs. It's rule 101 in staying alive and free in Thailand.

Their little blog hardly makes a world of difference to the plight of these people. Best leave it to real media outlets who have international clout hence reuters not being charged for authoring the article.

Edited April 17, 2015 by hansgruber

[stevenl]

The ruling Junta won't drop these charges against the media as they will lose face and some of these Navy officials may be serving in Prayuth's cabinet. Dropping the charges against the aussie who merely repeated what another wrote would go a long way in restoring Thai/Australian relationship but it is all about face. Keeping a lid on the Junta's involvement in human trafficking is also important.

So thai-aussie relations are bad because of this case? Bs.

[chooka]

The ruling Junta won't drop these charges against the media as they will lose face and some of these Navy officials may be serving in Prayuth's cabinet. Dropping the charges against the aussie who merely repeated what another wrote would go a long way in restoring Thai/Australian relationship but it is all about face. Keeping a lid on the Junta's involvement in human trafficking is also important.

So thai-aussie relations are bad because of this case? Bs.

Who said that? I certainly didn't say they were bad because of this case. The Junta is not recognised by Australia but if they did the right thing in this case it may make Australia look at them a little differently.

[BestBitterPhuket]

If Thailand doesn't drop the charges in this case, than it is a very good indication that the so called effort in combating human trafficking is nothing but a sham, and Thailand should remain in tier AND be subject to severe sanctions.

So far, the junta's "campaign" against human trafficking been nothing but words. No profiteers of this disgusting trade has been prosecuted, but these whistleblowers have.

[oneday]

As long as Thailand has their insane obsession with "saving face" they will have "defamation" laws.

[laocowboy2]

But....but....but...they HAVE to be sued. They are dumb farang who made Wonderful Thailand, and the outstanding Royal Thai Navy lose all important face!!!

Yes for economic crimes - with everything else going pear-shaped, slaving is an important pillar of the Thai economy.