Freedom House says Thailand’s political rights and civil liberties ratings decline

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Freedom House says Thailand’s political rights and civil liberties ratings decline

BANGKOk:-- Thailand’s political rights rating dropped from 4 to 6, its civil liberties rating declined from 4 to 5 and its status declined from partly free to not free due to the military coup in May, said Freedom House in its 2015 report of freedom in the world.

The military coup in last May cancelled all electoral plans. As convened by the National Council for Peace and Order in August, the 200-seat National Legislative Assembly of 105 active or retired military officers, 10 police officers and a number of academics, technocrats and business people. Those who had been active in a political party in the past three years were not eligible for appointment to the body. This was followed by the establishment of the National Reform Council and the Constitution Drafting Committee, said Freedom House.

Under the martial law in 2014, the NCPO ordered the cessation of broadcasts by all radio stations, some stations were later allowed to resume programming but forbidden to include any political topics. Two NCPO orders bar media from disseminating information that could cause disorder or that is critical of the regime. In November, Thai Public Broadcasting Service remove programme host Nattaya Wawweerakup as a result of pressure from the NCPO after a show featured villagers and activists criticizing the coup.

The regime requested cooperation from social media networks and operators to prevent the dissemination of messages provoking resistance to the NCPO and threatened legal action for non-compliance. 219 websites were blocked in May alone.

The NCPO banned political discussion in universities, including political seminars, prohibited criticism of the junta in schools. A number of academics were detained or summoned by the NCPO and several have fled the country.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/freedom-house-says-thailands-political-rights-and-civil-liberties-ratings-decline

-- Thai PBS 2015-10-29

RELATED: Thailand's internet ‘not free’ under military rule, says Freedom House

[rkidlad]

So with the reds we had 'unpeaceful' times and it needed to be stopped. Now, people are losing basic rights to maintain the peace.

Remind me which one is better and why there are only two choices?

I'm absolutely not a fan of either. So sad people think either are some how acceptable and there is zero compromise.

[Jingthing]

Wouldn't be prudent to comment further. Not gonna do it ...

[Mango Bob]

Freedom house did have to tell us this, most people here knew it already.

[BigBadGeordie]

I am gobsmacked at this report, clearly a misunderstanding.

[dcutman]

So with the reds we had 'unpeaceful' times and it needed to be stopped. Now, people are losing basic rights to maintain the peace.

Remind me which one is better and why there are only two choices?

I'm absolutely not a fan of either. So sad people think either are some how acceptable and there is zero compromise.

Here is a good read, and my answer your question. It also explains why things will never change.

http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/3303

[JackJD]

DO NOT comment in this thread!!!! This is not a free country! "They" read these threads.

[Srikcir]

With a scale of 1-7 with 1 being most free (ie., USA) and 7 being the least free (ie., Sudan), Thailand now is almost on par with North Korea and China.

Compare to Freedom House ratings in 2012 and 2013 after election of PTP and Yingluck:

Status: Partly Free

Freedom Rating: 4

Civil Liberties: 4

Political Rights: 4

[ianf]

Freedom House? Now there's an organisation that should be on everyone's list of right-wing war-mongering fascists. Doesn't Thaksin have close associations with this so-called human rights organisation? Isn't it a subsidiary of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED)? These are organisations with a common board of directors who are only concerned with their own global financial and business interests. Just look at what their stated aims and objectives are and make the manipulative connections for yourself. Don't believe anything they say. It's all right-wing propaganda and they stand full square behind America's imperialist and destructive ambitions.

[khunken]

From Wikipedia:

Freedom House is a U.S. based government funded non-governmental organization (NGO) that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political ...

Love it - a government funded NGO. Oxymorons Ole Ole.