Freedom of speech still exists, Wissanu insists

[Lite Beer]

POLITICS
Freedom of speech still exists, Wissanu insists
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PEOPLE still have the freedom to express their political opinions as long as they don't violate the law, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam insisted.

He made this statement in response to a question posed by the host of the "Perd Jai Thai Khu Fah", a government talk show broadcast on state-run Channel 11 on Thursday.

Wissanu denied the existence of any "special power" that controls people's right of expression, saying that though the interim charter's Article 44 gives the head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) absolute control over media, the press still continues criticising the junta and the government.

Despite this declaration, earlier on Thursday Wissanu warned that anybody using "provocative" language against the draft charter or the referendum on it would be prosecuted.

"It is illegal to send Line messages, SMS or video clips that are provocative, violent or abusive. Those doing this will face charges," he said. "The thing is, don't stir up violence with these messages. If it is a normal comment, that should be fine."

He added that this resolution was made by relevant agencies.

Wissanu also said during the TV programme that the junta-appointed government had two major tasks besides administering the country.

"Administration, reform and reconciliation are all our missions," he explained, "while other former governments held administration as their sole mission."

The government and the National Legislative Assembly, said Wissanu, have succeeded in pushing reform-related legislation - particularly the Licensing Facilitation Act that will enable civil servants to work faster "so people do not need to bribe them for faster operation any more".

The government, said Wissanu, is carrying out reform according to the NCPO's three-step procedure.

The first step consists of tackling issues that the government can respond to immediately without legislative endorsement, such as introducing new measures to regulate bars. Tackling illegal fishery is another issue under an immediate reform plan.

Intermediate reform needs more time to tackle by law or through making the public aware such as the introduction of a construction tax.

He said the current regime would not be able to complete the third and last step, long-term reform, because of the time required.

Good planning and continuous action will be required to push for successful reform in such areas as bureaucratic and justice systems.

Asked what the government expects from itself after its first year in power, the deputy prime minister said: "No matter how many years we are in power, we are still in the second step [of the three-step procedure], and we are looking forward to seeing the third step implemented after an election."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Freedom-of-speech-still-exists-Wissanu-insists-30267717.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-29

[thesetat2013]

Of course freedom of speech still exists.. Just not in Thailand unless you are doing it secretly or not talking bad about the current admin or police.

[tominbkk]

Freedom of speech except for the many taboo things must never talk about.

[Mango Bob]

The problem is the law (44) is denying people the right to freedom of speech. This is just another case for a member of this government putting there foot in their mouth once again.

[KarenBravo]

Lese majeste?

[peterjackson]

The most telling part of this PR exercise, was not that Free Speech still exists, but that he expects the present government to be in Step Two BEFORE an election takes place, FOR YEARS..... the cats out of the bag.

Finally, an admission of what many have suspected for a long time. No elections for YEARS.

QUOTE : Asked what the government expects from itself after its first year in power, the deputy prime minister said: "No matter how many years we are in power, we are still in the second step [of the three-step procedure], and we are looking forward to seeing the third step implemented after an election."

[arthurboy]

Ok the, let's see what happens if a group of peaceful citizens organise a local community meeting to explain and discuss the very long and complex constitution - including the controversial 'crisis panel' - and how it will affect their lives and future.

Any bets the army will turn up to 'monitor' the event - and by implication - intimidate the participants and close down the gathering?

Freedom of expression, indeed...

[tbthailand]

PEOPLE still have the freedom to express their political opinions as long as they don't violate the law, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam insisted.

yes, and "the law" violates their rights including the people's right to freedom of expression...

Morons...

[JeffreyO]

You have the freedom to talk about anything they approve. Be certain not to talk about the rest though.

When you have lese majeste laws and similar about the military government, in what way can you say you have freedom of speech?

[aussieinthailand]

Ok the, let's see what happens if a group of peaceful citizens organise a local community meeting to explain and discuss the very long and complex constitution - including the controversial 'crisis panel' - and how it will affect their lives and future.

Any bets the army will turn up to 'monitor' the event - and by implication - intimidate the participants and close down the gathering?

Freedom of expression, indeed...

There are no special powers to stop freedom of speech, as long as the speech content is not on our list of banned subjects.

We need set up a committee and six months to decide just what freedom of speech means.

Wasn't a group of juno's or something closed down twice by police a few months ago because they wanted to discuss some issues that were not to be talked about?

[Blackfalds]

Someone needs to coin a new word for "referendum"

What does one call a voting process that is controlled to elicit a specified result.

I suppose in the end, the result will be determined by the vote counters anyway. It would be good to be clear about the reality of a process pretending to elicit free and open public opinion, when it fact it is no such thing.

Calling it a referendum certainly doesn't apply.

Over to you wordsmiths............... enlighten us.

[Always18]

Someone needs to coin a new word for "referendum"

What does one call a voting process that is controlled to elicit a specified result.

I suppose in the end, the result will be determined by the vote counters anyway. It would be good to be clear about the reality of a process pretending to elicit free and open public opinion, when it fact it is no such thing.

Calling it a referendum certainly doesn't apply.

Over to you wordsmiths............... enlighten us.

Borrowing from the junta's previous "clarifications" and ever fond of their oxymorons, I suppose it might be called a "controlled referendum"...................

Edited August 29, 2015 by Always18

[Ricardo]

Someone needs to coin a new word for "referendum"

What does one call a voting process that is controlled to elicit a specified result.

I suppose in the end, the result will be determined by the vote counters anyway. It would be good to be clear about the reality of a process pretending to elicit free and open public opinion, when it fact it is no such thing.

Calling it a referendum certainly doesn't apply.

Over to you wordsmiths............... enlighten us.

I would propose "confirendum", it confirms by referendum, what the government have already decided the result should be ?

Somewhat related to a "Thai democratic-election", which also similarly confirms, what the man-in-the-sandpit has decided is the result he wants ?

Edited August 29, 2015 by Ricardo

[Lung Mike]

The absurdity of this statement defies belief. There is not even a slight resemblance to actual freedom of speech in Thailand. I sometimes wonder if what comes out of these official's mouths actually registers in their own brains?

[baboon]

The absurdity of this statement defies belief. There is not even a slight resemblance to actual freedom of speech in Thailand. I sometimes wonder if what comes out of these official's mouths actually registers in their own brains?

Why does it need to when they can simply sling your ass in jail for saying anything that displeases them?

[LannaGuy]

please TVF posters!!!

we can discuss ANYTHING even censored and censored and we can be open about His censored the censored and even talk about why censored got divorced and why censored family really was censored

I know this freedom exists because I submitted the above comments for 'comment adjustment' before posting.

Edited August 29, 2015 by LannaGuy

[NickJ]

It's still free to speak in Thailand. You just cant say any silly old thing though. Who needs to talk about pink nipple cream or politics?.

[a99az]

So true, along with long time in clink banged up for using free speech.

[reggaebkk]

It's freedom of speech ala French: "you can say what you want as long as you don't talk about the forbidden stuff". I'm exaggerating, Thai has more freedom of speech than France.

[h90]

Freedom of speech doesn't exit in Thailand, but it doesn't exist in Germany, USA, Australia as well.

All the political correct freedom of speech friends want the freedom only for their opinions.....

Speak in Germany or Austria about the good things from Hitler (no matter if there are good one or not, freedom means that you can also express opinions which are wrong)

And you'll be faster in jail than you blink.

Speak in USA that you don't like gays or black people and you'll be in troubles.

[bamnutsak]

PEOPLE still have the freedom to express their political opinions as long as they don't...

say anything.

earlier on Thursday Wissanu warned that anybody using "provocative" language against the draft charter or the referendum on it would be prosecuted.

So you can express yourself, but you will be prosecuted. Is that clear.

Freedom of speech still exists, Wissanu insists...

in most other countries, but not in Thailand.

What a silly man.

Edited August 29, 2015 by bamnutsak

[dominique355]

For once I agree with what General Prayut said: Don't trust any politician.

(I might add: How do you know a politician lies? His lips are moving.)

[Seastallion]

The most telling part of this PR exercise, was not that Free Speech still exists, but that he expects the present government to be in Step Two BEFORE an election takes place, FOR YEARS..... the cats out of the bag.

Finally, an admission of what many have suspected for a long time. No elections for YEARS.

QUOTE : Asked what the government expects from itself after its first year in power, the deputy prime minister said: "No matter how many years we are in power, we are still in the second step [of the three-step procedure], and we are looking forward to seeing the third step implemented after an election."

Yeah, too right, and good on 'em for that. There's some difficult tasks that need to be done before handing things back, and one of those things is ensuring once things are handed back, the system doesn't revert to it;s old corrupt self.

[EnglishJohn]

Les Majeste aside:

It's quite simple : you can say what you want as long as you are not writing stuff to promote division.

What this means, red-shirts, is stop egging each other on to go and commit more terrorism. We have seen enough of your 'democracy' now with your intimidation mobs outside courtrooms, death threats to judges or attacks on non-red shirt politicians if they dare venture into a red-shirt province. Thailand does not need more cowards firing grenades into women and children for a couple of thousand baht.

I have seen several of the low-end posters here sputtering about a peoples uprising and some sort of 'communist revolution' (which they seem to confuse with 'democracy') which is coming very soon. I reckon that's the sort of thing they are talking about.

It's quite simple - but obviously not simple enough. What you fail to realise is how you are free to post all this whining on a public forum. If it was anything like you pretend, why aren't you in jail with all the others you try to imply have been arrested ?.

[gandalf12]

Of course there is freedom of speech. You can say whatever you like as long as it makes everyone look good and doesnt transgress any of the laws that are in existance or could be formulated in years to come.

[LannaGuy]

Freedom of speech doesn't exit in Thailand, but it doesn't exist in Germany, USA, Australia as well.

All the political correct freedom of speech friends want the freedom only for their opinions.....

Speak in Germany or Austria about the good things from Hitler (no matter if there are good one or not, freedom means that you can also express opinions which are wrong)

And you'll be faster in jail than you blink.

Speak in USA that you don't like gays or black people and you'll be in troubles.

Here you go full of nonsense again. You can say what you like about Obama and you know it and that's the reference point not Hitler who killed millions of Jews. Minorities like gays and blacks have the RIGHT not to be bullied or harrassed and laws are there to protect them.

This is NOTHING to do with the Les Majeste law nor the no opposition laws to your hero Junta. Your views are utterly distasteful and frankly nasty.

Edited August 29, 2015 by LannaGuy

[arrowsdawdle]

PEOPLE still have the freedom to express their political opinions as long as they don't...

say anything.

earlier on Thursday Wissanu warned that anybody using "provocative" language against the draft charter or the referendum on it would be prosecuted.

So you can express yourself, but you will be prosecuted. Is that clear.

Freedom of speech still exists, Wissanu insists...

in most other countries, but not in Thailand.

What a silly man.

You are indeed free to say anything you like in Thailand, so long as you are prepared to pay the consequences.

[arrowsdawdle]

".....the Licensing Facilitation Act that will enable civil servants to work faster "so people do not need to bribe them for faster operation any more".

No, they'll need to bribe them to not work so slow.

[razer]

Sorry ... this was a good laugh ..."PEOPLE still have the freedom to express their political opinions as long as they don't violate the law"

Just think about that for a few seconds.

[GeorgesAbitbol]

It's freedom of speech ala French: "you can say what you want as long as you don't talk about the forbidden stuff". I'm exaggerating, Thai has more freedom of speech than France.

Sorry but what you say is utterly crap