On World Press Freedom Day, Prachatai and UNESCO organised a panel discussion on Press Freedom in Thailand after the NCPO Junta and the Next Step towards Protection, to reflect on the deterioration in global press freedom and the problem of the justice system being used to silence the media, especially in Thailand.

<p>When a veteran reporter said, “Freedom of the press is freedom of the people” Tuesday, the junta chief advised her to watch herself.&nbsp;</p> <p>On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, members of the Thai Journalists Association clad in specially designed black t-shirts to mark the occasion, visited Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha today at government house. Within a few minutes of asking to revoke some of the junta’s orders against media freedom, Prayuth made his standpoint on the issue clear.</p> <p>“Isn’t the freedom we have right now enough?,” he asked.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>World Press Freedom Day was first celebrated in 1993, established as a day not only to acknowledge the importance of free, independent media, but also to highlight the struggles and dangers journalists face to inform and empower their publics.</p>