Thai press censorship

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.

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

 

Watch 101 East at 16:30 GMT every Friday on Al Jazeera English and repeated during the week.

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