Thailand's laws being used more often to silence journalists
Ones on criminal defamation and computer crimes now being applied to a wave of prosecutions, making foreign, local media wary
Thailand's restrictive laws on criminal defamation and computer crimes are increasingly being used to silence both the foreign and local media and human rights activists.
The country is already known for having the strictest lèse-majesté laws in the world, effectively preventing any public discussion of the monarchy.
Now, Thailand is experiencing a wave of prosecutions that appear designed to mute journalists and activists writing or speaking out about corruption and human rights abuses especially.
That has made the local and foreign media increasingly wary about what stories they cover.
"I don't think there's any question that this is the least free environment for journalists in Thailand that I've ever known," said Jonathan Head, the president of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, who has been covering the country on and off since 2000.
"These draconian laws - criminal defamation, the computer crime act and lèse-majesté - are being misused to silence journalists, not just by the authorities, but by other people too."