THAILAND

Free speech under attack

From South China Morning Post, 8 February 2001

One of the first acts of the government of new Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, was to demand the state run ITV news station moderate criticism of him and his nationalist party.

When editorial staff complained about the directive, 24 editors and journalists were dismissed.

Head of the Thai Reporters’ Association Kavi Chongkittavorn said, “Under Shinawatra management, ITV wants to teach journalists who do not follow orders a hard lesson.”

The Association says the alleged editorial interference is unconstitutional. Thailand’s new constitution recognises media workers’ right to report news without intervention by vested interests.

Mr Shinawatra is still under investigation for corruption.