Government Censorship in Thailand
Posted by Stuart at 08:17 PM on November 17, 2005My life the last few days has been hectic and tiring, but fun. I've had a great time hanging out with Larry last week and Barry this week. I'll try to write up something later to give the run down on what we've been doing, including taking part in the Loy Kratong Festival last night.
But the main reason for this post is to share some breaking news here in Thailand. 2Bangkok.com is reporting that the website of one of the Thai-language newspapers, The Manager, will be shut down by the Thai government tomorrow.
Now, this is the same Manager paper that supposedly openly criticizes the government from time to time (imagine an editorial staff with the freedom to print what they want!), and was part of a take-over bid by a good friend of the Prime Minster a month or so ago. Luckily though, the public rallied behind the newspaper and the take-over was thwarted.
And this is also Thailand, a place where over 30,000 websites are already banned. Most of these websites are related to porn or gambling, so perhaps the censorship is justified. But, as I have always said, it's a slippery road when one starts censoring things. Who's to say that the government might one day start censoring ligitamate media outlets?
Today in Thailand, it looks like that day might be tomorrow.
Nothing unusual for Malaysians and Singaporeans, we have got used to be a nanny state! Maybe, that's Asian Values...
It is surprising that among all the Thai Prime Ministers, Nayok Thaksin Shinawatra is the most respected among Malaysians, especially among the Thai community here.
Nayok Thaksin is the beacon of economic growth, and a strong government, not unlike the strong Barisan Nasional in Malaysia and the People's Action Party in Singapore!
Re Khun Kitjar's comment, I do not think that accepting nanny state rule has any thing to do with asian values. It is rather a symthom of immature/undeveloped political mentality among population. Hongkong, South Korea, India, Japan, the Phillipines are examples of Asian countries that refuse to bow to this type of governing. Thai people are also constantly resistant to careless use of power by the state. Contrary to the report, The Manager website will not be closed down.
This piece of news makes me feel uncomfortable, as well as some roumors that I heard that say that certain government authority and friends of his already own most of the press and media in the country... is this true?