วันอังคาร, กรกฎาคม 06, 2564

ประยุทธ์ติดโผ 37 ผู้นำนานาชาติที่เป็นภัยคุกคามสื่อ (press freedom predators) อีกปี




“GENERAL - PRIME MINISTER” OF THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND SINCE 20 MAY 2014
PREDATOR SINCE TAKING OFFICE

Thailand, 137th/180 countries in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index

PREDATORY METHOD: USING “LÈSE-MAJESTÉ” CHARGES AGAINST CRITICS

Since carrying out a coup d’état and taking over as prime minister in 2014 with the support of the armed forces and monarchy, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha has developed an extremely thorough system of information control. From the very first months of his rule, he imposed a relentless regime of terror on all those voicing criticism, who were branded as government opponents. Before his first year as prime minister was over, more than 20 journalists and bloggers had fled abroad to avoid spending years in prison.

Prayut has a tailor-made weapon for cracking down on independent media – a lèse-majesté law that is the most draconian in the world, one that does not just penalise insulting the sovereign. Thanks to the possibility of combined sentences, any ill-considered comment about the monarchy can send someone to prison for up to 60 years. After seizing power, Prayut extended the law’s applicability to “national security,” which is tried by military court. The law no longer concerns just criticism of Thailand’s absolute monarchy but also comments about the armed forces, the government... or even the king’s dog.

FAVOURITE TARGETS: ALL OPPOSITION

Prayut took power by means of a military coup? Never mind, the army general quickly swapped his military uniform for a prime ministerial three-piece suit. Self-censorship reigns in Thailand and all the mainstream media are strongly encouraged to sing the praises of Prayut’s policies. Recalcitrant journalists know they could be fired if they fail to toe the government line. Many pro-opposition media outlets such as Voice TV were banned from broadcasting during the 2019 election campaign.

OFFICIAL DISCOURSE: CONTEMPT

During a press conference on 9 March 2021, Prayut Cha-o-cha sprayed journalists with hand sanitiser to make them stop asking questions.

"If you want t ask any question on politics, ask this guy", he said during a press conference on 9 January 2019, pointing to a full-sized photo of himself.

“We’ll probably just execute them,” he said at a news conference in March 2015, when asked what will happen to journalists who fail to toe the line.


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