Thailand / Asia

  

Thai journalist dies from bomb blast injuries

New York, September 26, 2011–The Thai government must bring to justice the perpetrators of the September 16 bomb attacks that killed a journalist and five other people in the country’s insurgency-plagued southern region, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. 

Read More ›

Zunar displays a copy of his previously banned cartoons. (AP)

Press freedom heroes in Southeast Asia

Three Southeast Asian journalists–Cambodia’s Hang Chakra, Malaysia’s Zulkiflee Anwar Ul Haque, or Zunar, and Thailand’s Chiranuch Premchaiporn–were among the 48 awardees of the Hellman/Hammett grant, given to writers targeted with political persecution, who were recognized today by Human Rights Watch for their commitment to press freedom.

Read More ›

Editor faces anti-royal charges in Thailand

Bangkok, July 28, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned by the anti-royal charges filed against Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, a political activist and former editor-in-chief of the Voice of Taksin and Red Power partisan newsmagazines.

Read More ›

PAD protesters take to the streets in Bangkok on Friday on the final day of campaigning for Sunday's election. (AP/David Longstreath)

Media targeted in Thai political transition

Bangkok, July 7, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the raid and seizure of broadcasting equipment by police at six community radio stations in Thailand’s northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province. The raids were staged two days after caretaker Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s government lost to the opposition Peua Thai party in general elections held on July…

Read More ›

Amid a crackdown, editor detained in Thailand

Bangkok, May 3, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the arrest and detention on lese majeste charges of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, a political activist and editor-in-chief of the Thailand-based Voice of Taksin and Red Power news magazines. 

Read More ›

Thai officials close 13 radio stations, detain staff

Bangkok, April 27, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns the closure by government authorities of at least 13 community radio stations in Thailand and calls on the government to cease its campaign of harassment against opposition-aligned media immediately.

Read More ›

Thailand dismisses role in Reuters photographer’s death

New York, March 24, 2011–A Thai police investigation concluded today that government security forces did not kill Reuters photographer Hiro Muramoto, left, during political violence in Bangok on April 10, 2010. But the Committee to Protect Journalists, expressing concerns that the investigation was not transparent, has called for a full, independent investigation into the Japanese…

Read More ›

Reuters

Concerns of Thai whitewash in killing of Reuters’ Muramoto

Bangkok, February 28, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by inconsistencies in Thailand’s official investigation into the killing of Reuters cameraman Hiro Muramoto, who was killed by gunfire while covering clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces last April 10 in Bangkok.Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation told reporters today that its investigations showed that Muramoto was apparently…

Read More ›

Attacks on the Press 2010: Asia Analysis

Partisan Journalism and the Cycle of Repression by Bob Dietz and Shawn W. Crispin Lal Wickramatunga’s family and publishing house, Leader Publications, have paid dearly in Sri Lanka’s highly charged political climate. While Leader’s newspapers, including the weekly Sunday Leader, are widely known for tough, independent reporting, they have been caught up in a partisan…

Read More ›

Attacks on the Press 2010: Thailand

Top Developments • Using emergency decree, government blocks access to thousands of websites. • CPJ faults government, protesters for lethal violence against media. Key Statistic 2: Journalists killed during violent clashes between security forces and protesters in Bangkok. Armed clashes between anti-government protesters and state security forces resulted in 91 deaths and more than 1,800…

Read More ›