Not long ago, Thailand was praised around the world for the freedom and independence of its media. It never was perfect, but in the days that the nation was truly aspiring to be a democracy, newspapers and broadcasters spoke truth to power. Foreign journalists set up regional headquarters in Thailand because it was so much more tolerant of a free press than any neighbour. Last week came yet another of the constant reminders that Thai press freedom has halted, if only temporarily.
Last Thursday was World Press Freedom Day, as designated by Unesco, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. This day was once celebrated in Thailand. Now it only is marked, sometimes even angrily. As they have for each of the past four years, media organisations, print and broadcast, unanimously called on the regime to ease up on restrictions. Every anniversary of the May 22, 2014, coup, is a sad reminder of the restrictions on media and speech, including possible prosecution used to censor.
For the fourth straight year, the military explained that honest reporters, broadcasters and editors have nothing to fear. Thailand is lucky, said army colonel and official junta flakman Col Winthai Suvaree, to have a benevolent controller. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and security forces ensure the media only reports vital news, without causing alarm or unrest.
The bland announcement, of course, is carefully designed to encourage a bland media. At issue is NCPO Announcement No.97 issued shortly after the coup of four years ago. On its surface, the military order encourages honest reporting, informed opinion. It forbids stories, analysis and broadcasts that "might" inflame the public and cause unrest.
In fact, since May of 2014, the regime has used the extra-legal Announcement No.97 in a different way. Security forces have intimidated, invited for coffee, arrested and imprisoned a small number of media people who refused to adjust their attitude. More cases are pending, mostly in the military court, with the current regime's favourite bullying charge, sedition.
The media, of course, is merely an extension of every citizen's right to assemble and speak freely. Again, the regime has selectively chosen vulnerable citizens to intimidate or even to imprison. Last month, the army sent officers around to the homes of parents of students who spoke against regime's policies. This threatening act of "we know where you live" and setting families against one another has a chilling effect on the right to free speech and a free press explicitly contained in the constitution. That charter was both written and approved at the regime's direction.
The NCPO truly has no justifiable reason for keeping any restrictions on speech, including the media. Last week, on World Press Freedom Day, the army stopped and sequestered two busloads of people from the North. They were trying to reach Bangkok to press the government on its lack of policy for landless people. Instead, the People's Movement for Just Society (P-Move) was held at military gunpoint.
Even onerous Announcement No.97 cannot justify such actions as preventing free movement or intimidating families. It is clear to everyone that the P-Move protest was not a political issue. Equally, it is indefensible for soldiers to intimidate students and their families who pose no threat whatsoever to peace and order.
The regime itself is clearly engaged in political activities -- including this week's electioneering under the cover of a mobile cabinet meeting in the Northeast. It is past time for the NCPO chief, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, to abolish the onerous and constitutionally illegal orders and announcements that threaten or prevent free expression. Without a vibrant media and freedom of speech, the military regime is fostering an image of oppression, without regard to rule of law.