THAILAND: Journalists fear speech under threat

Foreign correspondents clubs in China and Japan say Thailand's lese majeste laws are restricting freedom of expression

The Bangkok Post
Tuesday, July 7, 2009

By Achara Ashayagachat

Foreign correspondents clubs in other countries have expressed alarm over lese majeste complaints laid against the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand.

The groups' statements relate to lese majeste charges filed against the FCCT board by Laksana Kornsilpa, a 57-year-old translator.

Ms Laksana lodged the written complaint at Lumpini police station last Tuesday accusing the FCCT's board of insulting the monarchy by producing and selling DVDs which contain remarks made in August 2007 by Jakrapob Penkair, a political ally of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Foreign Correspondents' Club of China president Scott McDonald yesterday said he was appalled to learn the entire FCCT board had been accused of committing lese majeste, a crime which carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

"This is a worrying development, because Thailand's law on lese majeste is more and more used to restrict freedom of expression," Mr McDonald said.

A similar body in Japan has also issued a statement, saying the board of directors of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan was gravely concerned Thai authorities had used the lese majeste laws to restrict freedom of expression.

Meanwhile, the Special Branch Police Division yesterday denied a report it had banned sales of the British-based Economist magazine. Its latest edition carries an article which allegedly insults the royal family.

The division head, Pol Lt Gen Teeradej Rodphothong, said his agency was not authorised to prohibit sellers from ordering the magazine for sale in Thailand, and it had still not examined whether the content offends the monarchy.

But if anyone complains to the police about the issue and the article breaks the lese majeste law, the officers would act against the sellers, he said.

The controversial article, made public on July 4, is titled "Treason in Cyberspace". It criticises the government's strict control of web pages where content is deemed to breach the lese majeste law, raising concerns over a breakdown of freedom of speech.

Date Posted: 7/7/2009