Israel Hamas War the Widening Middle East Conflict

[webfact]

PRESS FREEDOM
Groups call for release of senior 'Nation' reporter
THE NATION


Pravit

BANGKOK: -- MEDIA GROUPS called yesterday for the immediate release of senior Nation reporter Pravit Rojanaphruk, who is being held by the National Council for Peace and Order.

Today, The Nation will submit a letter addressed to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is also head of the NCPO, requesting Pravit's immediate release.

The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) released a statement yesterday urging the NCPO to free Pravit and clarify its action, which "not only threatened the Thai people's right of expression but also affected the country's image".

Manop Thiposoth, vice chairman and spokesman for the TJA, said the association had called on all media professionals to work responsibly and professionally, but the authorities must also exercise their power carefully.

"Keeping him in detention without any formal charge or clarification is against the principles of freedom of the press and the people's basic rights under Article 4 of the provisional constitution," he said.

The TJA supported calls for the quick release of Pravit. It also called on the military to clarify his detention and be more careful in taking any action against journalists, he said.

Pravit was summoned on Sunday to report to First Army Area Command headquarters and has since been under military custody. He was not allowed to take his mobile phone, and his condition and whereabouts remain unknown.

Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd, in his phone call with The Nation, claimed yesterday that Pravit was summoned by the NCPO as an individual, not a journalist.

Sansern said Pravit had violated an agreement he had made with the NCPO after he was summoned last year.

He was called in this time because of what he posted on Facebook, the spokesman said without elaborating. Although it was Pravit's personal account, he seemed to "think loudly in order to spread his message". The message was "provocative and divisive", Sansern said.

Pravit might be detained from three to seven days and would be asked to sign an agreement not to violate an NCPO order again, or he would be charged with sedition under the Criminal Code, the spokesman said.

In response to a request by The Nation to visit Pravit, Sansern said no visitors would be allowed to meet Pravit, a practice that was also the case for others summoned.

Sansern declined to elaborate where Ptavit was detained but insisted he was not subjected to torture while held in military confinement.

The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) also expressed concern yesterday over Pravit being detained.

"We urge the NCPO to release Pravit Rojanaphruk immediately. His place of detention should also be immediately made public," the FCCT said in its statement.

"The detention of journalists or anyone else for the peaceful expression of their views violates Thailand's obligations under international human rights law," it said.

Thepchai Yong, editor-in-chief of Nation Multimedia Group, yesterday called for Pravit's immediate release.

"There is no justification whatsoever for his detention. If the military believes he has done something wrong, there are normal legal channels to deal with it," he said.

So far there has been no official explanation for Pravit's detention and his family and colleagues have no idea where he is being held, he said.

"We see this as a direct threat to press freedom," he said.

Pavinee Chumsri from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, who accompanied Pravit on Sunday to report to the NCPO, said yesterday that Pravit had asked her to act as his lawyer and an observer when he went to the First Army Area Command. But she was not able to enter.

After waiting for an hour, she was told that Pravit had been taken to another place. But the military officer would not say where and how long Pravit would be detained.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Groups-call-for-release-of-senior-Nation-reporter-30268818.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-15

[NeverSure]

And the world news take on this. "Military government - detained - reporter". "Attitude adjustment". "Summoned. Detained. Military confinement". "Freedom - speech - the press - crushing".

When does the general apologize for "harming Thailand's image"?

[NongKhaiKid]

Wouldn't it make wonderful international headlines if the NCPO starts summonsing for AA everyone who lobbies for the journalist's release ?

[MZurf]

Wouldn't it make wonderful international headlines if the NCPO starts summonsing for AA everyone who lobbies for the journalist's release ?

I wouldn't be surprised if they started doing just that. Thailand is not heading in the right direction, and it's doing so with increasing speed.

[FangFerang]

Another news article that the junta cheerleaders, in their swatches and puce flats, will just pointedly ignore.....

Ah, the sound of silence is deafening.

[exbikey]

Meanwhile here in Phuket

Phuket jail term suspended for Tiger Disco inferno deaths

[lildragon]

Another news article that the junta cheerleaders, in their swatches and puce flats, will just pointedly ignore.....

Ah, the sound of silence is deafening.

Oh I don't know. EnglishJohn was in another thread about this basically saying this journalist deserved it for 'goading' the NCPO and something about red shirts. He seems very desperate.

Where is djjamie? Haven't seen him in a long time. Looks like he disappeared after saying the BKK bombings were definitely red shirts...funny that.

[Srikcir]

"Keeping him in detention without any formal charge or clarification is against the principles of freedom of the press and the people's basic rights under Article 4 of the provisional constitution,"

But not against the principles under Article 44 of the provisional constitution!

Why do supposedly intelligent people seem to refuse to recognize the military's subjugation of the nation? The coup not only overthrew a democratic regime but overthrew an entire nation to deprive every citizen their rights and liberties. Even Abhisit gave a warning (2014-07-24):

In a Facebook post, Democrat Party chairman Mr. Abhisit compared Article 44 to Section 17 of the 1959 Charter that similarly granted complete power to a military leader in the name of national security. Mr. Abhisit observed that Article 44 appears to be even more gratuitous than the infamous Section 17.

"Even ... Section 17, which is considered to be the most absolute, only gives power to Prime Minister to order or take action to suppress acts that threaten national security," Mr. Abhisit wrote. "The difference is: under Article 44, the special power belongs to NCPO leader. The NCPO does not have to seek consent from the prime Minister."

[phoenixdoglover]

I'll be watching the US press for any reports on the triumphant visit and teachings by Mr. Prime Minister. American journalists will be so understanding of the unique situation in Thailand. They will probably just gloss over the coup, the poorly performing economy, the bombing, the suspension of rights, detention of journalists, and defeat of the Charter.

Why am I so negative? It must have been my upbringing as a red shirt sympathizer in the rice paddies of Massachusetts.

[MrBrilliant]

Next step NCPO raid The Nation offices......

[springheeled jack]

shades of the Spanish inquisition .this is not democracy this junta is creating an aura of fear imprisoning people for speaking their minds is the sort of thing you would expect in other countries not here this is an imposition by the military .

[ldiablo]

Another news article that the junta cheerleaders, in their swatches and puce flats, will just pointedly ignore.....

Ah, the sound of silence is deafening.

Oh I don't know. EnglishJohn was in another thread about this basically saying this journalist deserved it for 'goading' the NCPO and something about red shirts. He seems very desperate.

Where is djjamie? Haven't seen him in a long time. Looks like he disappeared after saying the BKK bombings were definitely red shirts...funny that.

8

He's hoping that like most things in Thailand it will be forgotten.