Pheu Thai slams junta for curbing freedom of expression

[webfact]

Pheu Thai slams junta for curbing freedom of expression

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party on Wednesday issued a statement calling for the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to stop intimidating citizens, media and academics from exercising their freedom of expression.

 

The party’s move follows repeated actions by the junta against several Pheu Thai figures such as former ministers Watana Muangsook, Pichai Naripthaphan and several ex-MPs who have been summoned, charged and visited by military and police officers since the NCPO came to power following the 2014 coup.

 

In the statement, Pheu Thai blamed the NCPO for using legal instruments to suppress and harass the public even after the 2017 constitution has been promulgated.

 

The NCPO, headed by PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha, has also issued absolute orders to retain or charge people having different opinions to curb their freedom of expression despite their constitutional rights, it said.

 

“Protection and respect for freedom of expression should guarantee that administrations of the government and the NCPO are transparent and accountable, on par with elected governments,” the statement said.

 

The party also called for respect for the rule of law, and justice that enabled defendants to fight their cases under the Penal Code.

 

Pheu Thai’s former PM Yingluck Shinawatra, who is due to hear the final verdict from the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders on her government’s rice-pledging scheme on August 25, had said earlier that she was being watched and followed by soldiers when she went on field trips.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30323340

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-10

[Ricardo]

Things were so much better, in the days of billion-baht libel-suits, after all. 

 

Thailand has a long-running problem with freedom-of-speech IMO, major reform is required for libel (and another) law, and no government seems willing to grasp-the-nettle once in power.  But it is only an emerging-democracy, not a long-established one.

[BasalBanality]

Everyone should be entitled to their freedom of expression and conversely everyone else is entitled to ignore said expressions. 

[wakeupplease]

9 minutes ago, Ricardo said:

Things were so much better, in the days of billion-baht libel-suits, after all. 

 

Thailand has a long-running problem with freedom-of-speech IMO, major reform is required for libel (and another) law, and no government seems willing to grasp-the-nettle once in power.  But it is only an emerging-democracy, not a long-established one.

emerging-democracy,

 

How long do they want to emerge a 1000 years? O like that lot in the 30's and 40's.

 

Two laws are draconian and need to be scrapped but there are those who hide behind them so no chance until they are back where they belong.

[Ricardo]

2 minutes ago, wakeupplease said:

emerging-democracy,

 

How long do they want to emerge a 1000 years? O like that lot in the 30's and 40's.

 

Clearly 80-years has been nowhere-near long enough.

 

2 minutes ago, wakeupplease said:

 

Two laws are draconian and need to be scrapped but there are those who hide behind them so no chance until they are back where they belong.

 

Of course, but is hiding in Dubai while one's lawyers are firing-off defamation-suits any better, back-where-they-belong for all of them, whether it's barracks or jail !

[NickJ]

Power and money grubbing on both sides. The average Thai Joe and Jane lose.....History just repeats. Until the day the masses are fed up.

[wakeupplease]

Just now, Ricardo said:

 

Clearly 80-years has been nowhere-near long enough.

 

 

Of course, but is hiding in Dubai while one's lawyers are firing-off defamation-suits any better, back-where-they-belong for all of them, whether it's barracks or jail !

I was not thinking of him when I wrote it but for once yes he brought one law in, so has to hold his hands up for it, I was thinking of others in the hear and now brigade. cannot live in the past as if you do there is no future move on time or right now move backwards is more appropriate.

[leeneeds]

"Field trips"  as in open spaces ? 

One day some one who has made a misguided decision 

may put their hand up and say

"YES I GOT IT WRONG"

one day!

[Ricardo]

7 minutes ago, wakeupplease said:

I was not thinking of him when I wrote it but for once yes he brought one law in, so has to hold his hands up for it, I was thinking of others in the hear and now brigade. cannot live in the past as if you do there is no future move on time or right now move backwards is more appropriate.

When using defamation-laws to suppress freedom-of-speech, how can one not think of the former democratically-elected PM who often did the same thing as the current regime, with the same objective of suppressing inconvenient criticism ?

 

And when people can't point to problems, how can solutions ever be discussed/agreed, and progress made ?

 

I think we're in full-agreement here, the laws need substantial updating, to protect freedom-of-speech in the future.  I just hope it happens, eventually. 

[Lupatria]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Pheu Thai slams junta for curbing freedom of expression

Isn't that already illegal?

[mtls2005]

Bloody Phrai clamoring for "rights". 

 

General /Deputy PM Prawit yesterday...

 

"Wait until I feel happy [with the situation] and I will see to it the restrictions are lifted," he added. 

 

So evidently "happiness" has yet to be returned to him?

 

 

 

 

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, Ricardo said:

When using defamation-laws to suppress freedom-of-speech, how can one not think of the former democratically-elected PM who often did the same thing as the current regime, with the same objective of suppressing inconvenient criticism ?

 

And when people can't point to problems, how can solutions ever be discussed/agreed, and progress made ?

 

I think we're in full-agreement here, the laws need substantial updating, to protect freedom-of-speech in the future.  I just hope it happens, eventually. 

Is there really a fair comparison of using defamation laws in elected government and the range of arbitrary laws, extrajudiciary detention, intimidation of family members, snatching opposition off the streets, death in the cells in a post coup unelected government?

[greenchair]

He did this and she did that. 

But anyway moving forward, we are where we are 4 years later. 

It's been long now. 

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. 

It would be a very good start to a new era to let the people speak freely. 

My heart really hurts when I hear of the old, the very young and the weak being sentenced to prison for decades. Whilst murderers, thieves and rapists recieve 10 years or less. Let them squabble, I don't care who is in power but please all players stop stomping on the weak. 

 

[johnarth]

50 minutes ago, greenchair said:

He did this and she did that. 

But anyway moving forward, we are where we are 4 years later. 

It's been long now. 

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. 

It would be a very good start to a new era to let the people speak freely. 

My heart really hurts when I hear of the old, the very young and the weak being sentenced to prison for decades. Whilst murderers, thieves and rapists recieve 10 years or less. Let them squabble, I don't care who is in power but please all players stop stomping on the weak. 

 

Beautiful but when a person comes into power they feel they have to stomp on the week to prove to them selves and others they have power and of course you have to have a lot of money to keep the power.

[mtls2005]

But anyway moving forward, we are where we are 4 years later. 

 

According to the "clock", I'd estimate 3:30 PM?

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut Chan-o-cha, has also issued absolute orders to retain or charge people having different opinions to curb their freedom of expression despite their constitutional right

So a nation under the illusion of freedom but still under the yoke of autocracy.

Pretty much summarizes the state of the nation since the first constitution.

 

[Baerboxer]

 "Pheu Thai Party on Wednesday issued a statement calling for the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to stop intimidating citizens, media and academics from exercising their freedom of expression."

 

They want it clearly understood that only they and their associated goons at the UDD should be allowed to do that.

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Is there really a fair comparison of using defamation laws in elected government and the range of arbitrary laws, extrajudiciary detention, intimidation of family members, snatching opposition off the streets, death in the cells in a post coup unelected government?

 

Use of defamation laws, a lot, use of yellow and red cards for journalists questions, use of hired thugs when necessary, bribery and intimidation as required.

 

That's right Eric, he never ever did anything wrong, never ever. Pastries anyone?

[JAG]

 
Use of defamation laws, a lot, use of yellow and red cards for journalists questions, use of hired thugs when necessary, bribery and intimidation as required.
 
That's right Eric, he never ever did anything wrong, never ever. Pastries anyone?

You know very few here would claim that Thaksin and his various proxies were blameless.
Nevertheless the continuous justification of every repressive and authoritarian action by this regime, (a military junta imposed by a coup, and which relies on arbitrary decrees to govern), by referring to his past actions is now ( if it was not before) a particularly empty argument.

[Baerboxer]

Just now, JAG said:

You know very few here would claim that Thaksin and his various proxies were blameless.
Nevertheless the continuous justification of every repressive and authoritarian action by this regime, (a military junta imposed by a coup, and which relies on arbitrary decrees to govern), by referring to his past actions is now ( if it was not before) a particularly empty argument.

 

I don't use it as an argument, therefore empty or full is irrelevant. But Eric asks if it is a fair to compare them. Both tried/try to suppress freedom of speech, inconvenient criticism, opponents and anything they don't like. Their methods may differ but their objectives are the same. 

 

Not all posters are balanced in their views. There are quite a few who want to pretend that Thaksin and his cronies are blameless of all and every thing. You know the ones.

 

With a Junta you know what you're gonna get. By and large they don't bother trying to deny it and do as expected. With Thaksin and his cronies you get the higher hypocrisy and attempted gloss over as a bonus.

[JAG]

Your almost perpetual response to almost any comment on the juntas various acts is to hark back to Thaksin. You say Eric asked whether it was a fair comparison? You don't compare, you simply justify the most egregious actions by insisting that Thaksin did worse. Now we all know your deep burning hatred for Pheu Thai and the Shinawatras, you have managed to maintain a remarkable obsession with their misdeeds going for over three years now.
The pity is that when you have anything pertinent to say it is invariably drowned by the tide of bilious rhetoric.

[Baerboxer]

Just now, JAG said:

Your almost perpetual response to almost any comment on the juntas various acts is to hark back to Thaksin. You say Eric asked whether it was a fair comparison? You don't compare, you simply justify the most egregious actions by insisting that Thaksin did worse. Now we all know your deep burning hatred for Pheu Thai and the Shinawatras, you have managed to maintain a remarkable obsession with their misdeeds going for over three years now.
The pity is that when you have anything pertinent to say it is invariably drowned by the tide of bilious rhetoric.

 

In the same way that you, and other posters, to varying degrees, try to wipe the slate clean for the various Shin regimes, rewrite history to favor them or divert criticism of them to wider political discussions using convenient Western constructs. 

 

Why there is such an obsession by specific posters old and new, to continually do this is your own guess. But equally there are posters who post the actual history and action as a reminder of the reality of what a return of another Thaksin proxy regime would bring.

 

No, again, I answered Eric's question of if is was reasonable to compare the Junta and a Shin way of suppressing freedom of speech and criticism.

 

You own obsession with elections as a universal panacea and perhaps experiences connected to the military mean that you want only to focus on the junta seem prone to accepting anything else in preference. 

 

The Shinawattra misdeeds stretch back over a long period. Some are currently going through court, and their patriarch retains a tight grip on them whilst avoiding a plethora of outstanding serious court cases, and serving his jail sentence, All whilst still trying to get back in power. So yes, they are still topical and relevant.

 

It seems that you want to only discuss the junta, it's shortcomings whilst ignoring that the main opposition to the junta is hardly, if at all any better. And as part of that try to discourage any who do refer to that opposition unfavorably from posting. Do you see your extreme irony?

 

 

[Becker]

1 hour ago, Baerboxer said:

With a Junta you know what you're gonna get. By and large they don't bother trying to deny it and do as expected. With Thaksin and his cronies you get the higher hypocrisy and attempted gloss over as a bonus.

That's just nonsense. This junta took power claiming it was necessary for them to "fix" the country and they have consistently claimed to maintain higher moral standards than the elected administrations.

Well, surprise, surprise, they don't so what do you call that other than blatant hypocrisy?

[TKDfella]

I wonder if books by Evelyn Beatrice Hall /S. G. Tallentyre have been translated into to Thai yet...probably banned anyway, ha!

[jesimps]

8 hours ago, Ricardo said:

When using defamation-laws to suppress freedom-of-speech, how can one not think of the former democratically-elected PM who often did the same thing as the current regime, with the same objective of suppressing inconvenient criticism ?

 

And when people can't point to problems, how can solutions ever be discussed/agreed, and progress made ?

 

I think we're in full-agreement here, the laws need substantial updating, to protect freedom-of-speech in the future.  I just hope it happens, eventually. 

They did have freedom of speech in the democratic vote. Unfortunately, the military always steps in before the people have the chance to vote them out, or in as the case may be.

[Ricardo]

17 minutes ago, jesimps said:

They did have freedom of speech in the democratic vote. Unfortunately, the military always steps in before the people have the chance to vote them out, or in as the case may be.

" the military always steps in"

 

Not quite always, for example they didn't in 2005 or 2011, did they ?

 

 

"They did have freedom of speech in the democratic vote"

 

I've only been watching for 15-years-or-so, others doubtless have much longer experience here, but the two laws wakeupplease and I were discussing have both been in-force for all of that time.

 

Therefore they were in-force, and in frequent use, during whichever election (or democratic vote) you're actually referring to.

 

I have never seen real freedom-of-speech here, just slightly-different levels of suppression at best, using those two laws.

 

I would repeat, because I think it's important, what I said in my first post  ...  " Thailand has a long-running problem with freedom-of-speech IMO, major reform is required for libel (and another) law, and no government seems willing to grasp-the-nettle once in power."

 

That applies to governments of all three colours over those 15-years, red/yellow/green, however they actually came into power.

 

I think that, in their rush to condemn only the current government, some posters forget that previous ones were equally at-fault, because IMO all politicians want to squash criticism, and those two laws are useful tools.

 

 

[metisdead]

An inflammatory post that claimed another member was paid to post has been removed. If you have any actual evidence please forward it to support. If it's just a lame debating tactic, further references like that may find you without posting rights.