Thailand bans 'rude' opinions ahead of crucial referendum
Thailand bans 'rude' opinions ahead of crucial referendum
By Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Andrew R.C. Marshall May 3,
2016
BANGKOK (Reuters) - From the question of Britain's place
in Europe to the choice of New Zealand's flag, referendums worldwide are
usually preceded by unbridled debate. Not so under Thailand's junta.
Many Thais are chafing under strict new regulations governing
discussion ahead of an Aug. 7 referendum on a military-backed constitution.
The junta that seized power in a May 2014 coup has
already threatened to jail anyone campaigning for or against the constitution,
which critics say entrenches the military's political influence.
The 14 rules, which were issued by the Election
Commission and formally became law on Monday, make even well-meaning discussion
risky, say academics and experts.
Under the regulations, Thais must express their opinions
with "polite words ... without distorting the facts".
"Rude, aggressive, or intimidating" interviews
with the media are banned. So is organizing a panel discussion "with
intent to incite political unrest".
Also forbidden are "T-shirts, pins and ribbons"
that encourage others to campaign.
Violators can be jailed for up to 10 years. Dissenters in
military-run Thailand often receive lengthy prison sentences under draconian
laws on computer crime and royal defamation.
The referendum will be a test of the junta's popularity
and a potential flashpoint in a turbulent political scene, say analysts. The
military government has promised an election by mid-2017, even if the
constitution is rejected.
Groups of all political stripes have denounced the draft
constitution as undemocratic, with one major political party urging supporters
to vote "no".
"To express opinions using reason. Is that so hard
to understand?" Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha snapped at a reporter who
asked about the new rules on Tuesday.
Prayuth has ruled largely unchallenged but anti-junta
activists have recently staged small but frequent protests.
Nine activists were jailed last week on charges of
sedition and computer crimes. Two face additional charges of insulting the
monarchy.
Phubed Pisanaka, a recent law graduate who comments on
the government on his Facebook account, said the rules would make him more
careful.
"I have to think twice about what I post and share
now," he said.
Others remain defiant.
"I'll keep expressing my opinion even though I could
be criminalized," said Kornkritch Somjittranukit, a contributor to
Thailand's online publication Prachatai.
"If thinking differently is a crime, living inside
or outside of jail is practically the same," he said.
(Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and
Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Comments
Post a Comment