<p>The Director of the <a href="http://www.thaifilm.com/">Thai Film Foundation</a> expressed disappointment with Thailand’s first ever rating system for films to be shown in cinemas, after the Cabinet approved a ministerial regulation on the ratings which will take effect from mid-August.</p>
By Leila Salaverria |
<p>On the Thai-Burmese border--When the dogs start baying at night, fear begins to grip those living in a village in the west of Burma (Myanmar) where the Rohingya people live. More often than not, the howling of the dogs means soldiers are coming and one of the villagers will be taken away.</p>
By Article 19 |
<p>(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - 30 July 2009 - ARTICLE 19 and the National Press Council of Thailand (NPCT) have jointly launched a Report, the Impact of Defamation Law on Freedom of Expression in Thailand. The Report outlines the nature of defamation law in Thailand, as well as the chilling effect it has on freedom of expression.</p>
<p>On July 30, a group of activists visited Daranee Charnchoengsilapakul at Klong Prem prison, marking the 1st anniversary of her detention pending trials for lèse majesté.</p>
<p>On July 27, Danny O'Brien, International Coordinator of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), expressed his astonishment at learning that the Minister of Information and Communications Technology had revealed that the ministry had already dealt with 16,944 URLs with improper content.</p>
<p>Da Torpedo was acquitted on a charge of besieging the ASTV office, but was fined for insulting Sondhi Limthongkul. </p>
<p>On July 28, Bangkok South Criminal Court ruled on the charges against Daranee Charnchoengsilapakul or Da Torpedo of instigating unrest, detaining others, damaging property, trespass and defamation, in an incident on 1 June 2007, when she led a group of about 50-70 red shirts to protest at the ASTV office on Phra Athit Road.</p>
<p>A group of activists called Social Move has sent emails inviting the public to visit Daranee Charnchoengsilapakul at Khlong Prem Prison, at 9.30-11.30 am on July 30, to give her moral support.</p>
<p>On July 23, the Chiang Rai Provincial Court sentenced three farmers’ leaders to one year in jail for violating the Highway and Land Traffic Acts, and fined them 200 baht each for advertising with amplifiers without permission. The penalties were commuted by half because they had pleaded guilty.</p>
<p>Triumph workers rallied at the Swiss Embassy in Bangkok, making demands through the embassy to Triumph International whose headquarters is located in Switzerland. After the embassy refused to come out to receive their petition, the workers read out the demands, burned the petition and left.</p>
<div>Since July 17, about 150 farming families have occupied a eucalyptus plantation run by the Forest Industry Organization (FIO) under the Royal Forest Department in Tambon Thung Phra, Khon San District, Chaiyaphum Province in the Northeast. They vow to stay on until the government gives them back their land.</div>
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<p>We, the workers of Triumph International Philippines under the leadership of Bagong Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawa sa Triumph International- Independent or New Unity of Workers in Triumph International strongly denounce and resist the injustice of Triumph International Philippines to us.</p>
<p>A confidential letter has been sent to a Prime Minister’s Office Minister, blacklisting websites, community radio stations and cable TV stations. The source of the letter has not been reported.</p>