Thailand Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

For journalists, coverage of political unrest proves deadly

December 20, 2011 12:01 AM EST

Journalists die at high rates while covering protests in the Arab world and elsewhere. Photographers and freelancers appear vulnerable. Pakistan is again the deadliest nation. A CPJ special report

Imprisonments jump worldwide, and Iran is worst

December 8, 2011 12:01 AM EST

Stark regional differences are seen as jailings grow significantly in the Middle East and North Africa. Dozens of journalists are held without charge, many in secret prisons. A CPJ special report

Floodwaters have reached Bangkok. (AP/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand tries to censor site devoted to flood news

October 25, 2011 2:22 PM EDT

Bangkok, October 25, 2011 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by reports that Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government has tried to censor the citizen-journalist website Thaiflood, which has provided crucial news and information about massive flooding that has inundated one-third of the country’s provinces. At least 350 people have been killed and…

Holding intermediaries liable for users’ content

October 24, 2011 5:11 PM EDT

Earlier this month, I spoke as an expert witness in the ongoing trial of Chiranuch Premchaiporn, the editor of Thailand’s Prachatai.com website, who is being criminally prosecuted under that country’s Computer Crime Act and Lesé Majesté laws. The crime involves online posts allegedly disrespectful to Thailand’s monarchy, but Chiranuch herself is not accused of originating…

Thai journalist dies from bomb blast injuries

September 26, 2011 3:09 PM EDT

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.

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

Press freedom heroes in Southeast Asia

September 14, 2011 10:25 AM EDT

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.

Editor faces anti-royal charges in Thailand

July 28, 2011 2:12 PM EDT

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.

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

July 7, 2011 1:38 PM EDT

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…

Amid a crackdown, editor detained in Thailand

May 3, 2011 4:00 PM EDT

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.

Thai officials close 13 radio stations, detain staff

April 27, 2011 3:18 PM EDT

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.