On Tuesday, TrueVisions subscribers who tuned into the BBC channel to watch a profile of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat were met with a blocking message, prompting concerns about media freedom in Thailand. During a press conference following a meeting with eight coalition parties, Limjaroenrat expressed his worry about the state of press freedom in the country, emphasizing the importance of “direct and transparent presentation of information” in a democratic society.
Limjaroenrat revealed that at least three foreign news media outlets have faced censorship when reporting on Thailand, and self-censorship is often practiced by Thai media, particularly regarding the country’s royal defamation law. Under this law, anyone can file a complaint, and the interpretation of what constitutes an insult is highly unpredictable. This uncertainty leads to pay-TV providers such as TrueVisions blocking sensitive content about Thailand produced by foreign media outlets, sometimes censoring entire reports for mentioning the subject matter, even if it’s not controversial in nature.
In his interview with the BBC’s Southeast Asia correspondent, Jonathan Head, Limjaroenrat was asked to explain why his party seeks to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code on royal defamation. He responded, “The sentiment of the era has changed. I think we now have the maturity and tolerance to speak about the monarchy. Even conservatives understand what the role of a constitutional monarchy should be in the 21st Century.” Limjaroenrat added that his party won over 14 million votes in the election, and those voters knew that amending the royal defamation law was one of their key agenda items.
The censorship of foreign media outlets in Thailand has generated concerns about freedom of speech and transparency, hindering creative thinking and innovation. With influential political figures like Limjaroenrat and his party calling for changes to the royal defamation law, a more open dialogue on this sensitive subject may be possible. However, these latest events signify that more work is needed to ensure media freedom and the transparent presentation of information in the country.
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