Press Freedom
CPJ Updates
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Thailand November 4, 2005
H.M. King Phumiphon Adunyadet
Monarch
The Grand Palace , Thanon Na Phr Lan
Bangkok 10200
Kingdom of Thailand
Fax: (011.66.2) 22-43-25/ 224-3259
Your Majesty:
In the nearly 60 years since your ascension to the throne, the Kingdom of Thailand has seen many advances in the freedoms and prosperity of your people.
It is with alarm, then, that the members of the Freedom of the Press Committee of our Club, the Overseas Press Club of America (OPC), view reports of political interference with Channel 9 Television. Such activity may violate Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. At the very least, it is beneath the dignity of your great country.
According to information from the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), the government removed Muang Thai Rai Sapda (Thailand Weekly), a political talk show, from the airwaves after it made references to the monarchy. This program has apparently achieved an audience because of its sharp criticisms of the government.
Thailand Weekly is, therefore, an element in the free exercise of democracy in Thailand . The program host, Sondhi Limthongkul, who also founded the local daily newspaper, Pucharkarn, insists that he made his comments about the monarchy with full respect.
We urge Your Majesty to clear the air and denounce the program’s removal as unwarranted. Such an act would help demonstrate Thailand ‘s respect for the rule of international law and its determination to afford journalists the full rights of their citizenship.
We respectfully request the honor of your reply.
Respectfully yours,
John Martin
Norman Schorr
Freedom of the Press Committee
cc:
Thaksin Chinnawat
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Government House
Thanon Nakhon Pathom
Bangkok 10300
Kingdom of Thailand
Fax: (011.66.2) 280-0858
Piromya Kasit
Chief of Mission
Embassy of the Kingdom of Thailand
1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401
Washington , DC 20007
Fax: (202) 944-3611
Ambassador Laohaphan Laksanachanthon
Permanent Representative
Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United Nations
351 East 52nd Street
New York , NY 10022
Fax: (212) 688-3029
Ralph L. Boyce
U.S. Ambassador to Thailand
Embassy of the United States of America
120/22 Wireless Road
Bangkok
Thailand
Fax: (011.66.2) 254-2990/ 205-4131