Thailand / Asia

  

Authorities shut TV news station in Thailand

Bangkok, April 29, 2015–Thai authorities on Monday revoked the operating license of Peace TV, a news station aligned with the elected government ousted in last year’s military coup, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the move and calls for Thai authorities to stop harassing and censoring the media.

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Cyber security bill threatens media freedom in Thailand

Bangkok, January 20, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Thailand’s military-appointed legislature to scrap proposed legislation that would allow for mass surveillance of online activities and platforms. The Cyber Security Bill was approved this month by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s Cabinet and is pending in the National Legislative Assembly.

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China is world’s worst jailer of the press; global tally second worst on record

More than 200 journalists are imprisoned for their work for the third consecutive year, reflecting a global surge in authoritarianism. China is the world’s worst jailer of journalists in 2014. A CPJ special report by Shazdeh Omari

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Journalist jailed on anti-royal charges in Thailand

New York, November 25, 2014–The editor of an online news aggregator in Thailand was sentenced on Monday to four and a half years in prison on charges of defaming the country’s monarch, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the sentence and calls for an end to the use of the country’s…

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Thai military authorities force broadcast reporter off the air

New York, November 17, 2014–Military authorities in Thailand have forced the suspension of a broadcast reporter for violating orders under martial law that bar critical reporting on the country’s ruling junta, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for an end to intimidation and harassment of journalists and a lifting of all…

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CPJ

No press freedom without Internet freedom

Four years ago, when CPJ launched its Internet Advocacy program, we were met with lots of encouragement, but also some skepticism. “Why do you need a program to defend the Internet?” one supporter asked. “You don’t have a special program to defend television, or radio, or newspapers.” But the Internet is different. Increasingly, when it…

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Thai junta expands media controls

Bangkok, July 21, 2014–In a mounting clampdown on press, Internet, and social media freedoms, a new military directive in Thailand has barred any critical reporting or commentary about the ruling National Council for Peace and Order junta. The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for an immediate reversal of the freedom-curbing edict and all other measures…

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Thai editor held for four days, accused of violating martial law

Thanapol Eawsakul, editor and founder of Fah Diew Gahn (Same Sky) news magazine, a tri-monthly Thai-language publication, was arrested on July 5, 2014, in a Bangkok café, according to news reports. He was held on a seven-day detention order, the maximum period allowable without a trial under martial law, and released on July 9, 2014.

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Thai military detains journalist and his lawyer

New York, May 27, 2014–Military authorities in Thailand should immediately release a local journalist who was taken into military custody on Sunday after being summoned for questioning, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. 

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Media squeezed in Thai military coup

Bangkok, May 22, 2014–Thailand’s military-led National Peace and Order Maintaining Council today seized administrative power in a coup and ordered local broadcast media to halt regular programming and local satellite and cable service providers to block international news channels, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the military-imposed censorship and calls for an…

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