EDITORIAL
Democracies don't ban items of free expression
- Published: 21/11/2010 at 04:03 AM
- Newspaper section: News
The Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd announced a ban on souvenirs and other materials considered offensive to the monarchy and pandering to disunity, which the CRES said were available at Friday's red shirt rally at Ratchaprasong. The CRES issued a number of orders to prohibit the sale or free distribution of rally materials including shirts, photographs, illustrations and printed texts apparently aimed at sparking disunity in society.
Severe penalties _ up to two years in jail and a maximum fine of 40,000 baht _ were set for violating the ban, which was signed by army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha. An army source said the ban was announced after Gen Prayuth was upset when he came across T-shirts and sandals with images mocking prominent figures.
The ban is problematic for several reasons. To begin with, by what authority does the military, in this case through the CRES, have the power to arbitrarily decide what is lawful and what is not and set penalties?
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