Thailand Archives - Page 3 of 25 - Committee to Protect Journalists

A military officer watches a television screen showing Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun speaking after he accepted an invitation from parliament to succeed his late father at the Dusit Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, December 1, 2016. (Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha)

TV news channel suspended in Thailand

March 27, 2017 11:36 AM EDT

Bangkok, March 27, 2017–Thai media regulators should immediately reverse their suspension of the operating license of Voice TV and should allow the media to broadcast and publish freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Media regulators today suspended the channel’s operating license for seven days.

Defamation suit in Thailand restricts BBC reporter’s freedom of movement

February 28, 2017 1:48 PM EST

Bangkok, February 28, 2017–A court in Thailand has seized the passport of BBC reporter Jonathan Head in response to a criminal defamation suit filed by a Thai lawyer over a news report on alleged fraud committed on the tourist island of Phuket. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the restrictions on the reporter’s freedom of…

CPJ concerned about proposed media controls in Thailand

February 3, 2017 11:27 AM EST

CPJ urges Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to reject new legislation increasing government control over the media, and to repeal previous decrees expanding state control of the media.

A website displays a message from the Thai Ministry of Digital Economy and Society reading, "This website contains content and information that is deemed inappropriate. It has been censored by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society," November 17, 2016. (AP)

Thai legislation threatens online freedoms

December 16, 2016 1:04 PM EST

Bangkok, December 16, 2016–Thailand’s cabinet and king should scrap legislation that would give authorities sweeping new powers to censor the internet based on vague and broad criteria, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The military-appointed National Legislative Assembly today passed amendments to the 2007 Computer Crime Act that would severely restrict Thais’ rights to…

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting, December 7, 2016. (Reuters/Chaiwat Subprasom)

Thai junta threatens BBC over royal news coverage

December 8, 2016 12:35 PM EST

Washington, December 8, 2016–Thailand’s military government should stop harassing and threatening the BBC with criminal prosecution under laws that bar criticism of the Thai royal family, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

A woman takes a selfie with a picture of King Bhumibol Adulyadej after the hearse carrying his body goes by. News broadcasts have been replaced with royal footage after the king's death. (AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha)

CPJ calls on Thailand to not censor news during royal transition

October 14, 2016 10:10 AM EDT

New York, October 14, 2016–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Thailand’s military government to lift a blanket censorship order on television news broadcasters imposed in the wake of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s death yesterday.

In this September 30, 2014, file photo, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha waves after a Bangkok handover ceremony for the new chief of the Royal Thai Army. (Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha)

Draft regulatory bill threatens media freedom in Thailand

September 15, 2016 11:44 AM EDT

Bangkok, September 15, 2016 – Thailand’s military-appointed National Reform Steering Assembly should scrap proposed legislation that would create a new national media regulator, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The draft bill, the latest in a raft of military-imposed measures that restrict press freedom, is now being considered by a government sub-panel tasked with…

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha arrives for a cabinet meeting in Bangkok on August 9, 2016. He has empowered a state media regulator to close news outlets without the right to appeal for reasons of national security. (AP/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand pressures two broadcast journalists off the air

August 18, 2016 12:11 PM EDT

Bangkok, August 18, 2016–Two television reporters in Thailand have been suspended for a 10-day period under pressure from military authorities and state media regulators over their critical news coverage, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Thailand’s ruling military regime to cease its systematic harassment of the broadcast media and…

Thailand harasses critical website ahead of constitutional vote

July 12, 2016 5:56 PM EDT

New York, July 12, 2016 – Thai authorities should cease harassing independent news website Prachatai and drop all charges against one of its journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai at a press conference in Bangkok in 2015. He says the new media guidelines will curb 'misleading' coverage. (Reuters/Chaiwat Subprasom)

Thailand aims to hollow out foreign press with new visa restrictions

March 10, 2016 10:43 AM EST

Senior Southeast Asia representative Shawn Crispin this week presented CPJ’s concerns about new media visa restrictions for foreign reporters based in Thailand to a group of Bangkok-based ambassadors. The controversial measures, announced last month by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are scheduled to come into force on March 21. The text of Crispin’s speech follows: