Thai press censorship
Since coming to power the Thai military government has censored the Thai media.
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| Karuna Buakamsri, Channel 11 presenter |
In early April the military appointed government of Thailand blocked all access to the website YouTube. YouTube’s crime was failing to block a video that insulted Thailand’s king.
Since coming to power the government has blacked out international news broadcasts, seized a private TV station and blocked political websites.
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Internet and press censorship is a live issue the world over but Thailand is an interesting case study because the country is now writing a new constitution and many people are wondering whether the issue of freedom of speech will be a part of it.
In this episode of 101 East we ask just how important is freedom of speech and freedom of the media in the creation of a new Thai democracy and does this censorship in Thailand indicate a lack of commitment to democracy?
Surichai Wuan Kaeo, a legislator from the Thai government, Kraisak Choonhavan, a former Thai senator, and Karuna Buakamsri, a Channel 11 presenter, join us to discuss this.
Watch this episode of 101 East here:
Part 1:
Part 2:
This episode of 101 East aired from 13 April 2007
101 East airs at 16:30GMT every Thursday on Al Jazeera English and is repeated during the week.
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Published On 4 Jul 2007