Prime Minister Surayut Chulanon
Office of the Prime Minister
Bangkok, Thailand

28 September 2007

Dear Prime Minister,

We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the
World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 102 countries,
to express our serious concern at continuing restrictions on press freedom
in Thailand one year after the coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra.

Although the recently enacted constitution returns some of the guarantees
that were enshrined in the previous constitutional charter, we are
concerned that press freedom is still seriously compromised, with martial
law in force in half the country and several laws introduced that restrict
free expression.

According to reports, some advances have been made, such as stricter rules
against political interference and the revocation of an antiquated Printing
Act. However, a number of restrictions on the media mean that the press is
still not able to exercise its role free from state interference.

Martial law remains in force in 35 provinces, imposing limitations on media
coverage and contributing to self-censorship, and the Information and
Communications Technology Ministry blocks hundreds of websites across the
country.

We are also concerned that the recent Computer-Related Offences Commission
Act will place further restrictions on online media. Two arrests have so
far been made under the Act, both reportedly involving individuals posting
comments on online forums. The Act has been criticised for being unclear as
to what constitutes an offence, thereby promoting self-censorship, and for
containing sentences that are disproportionate to offences committed. The
law also strengthens the government's powers to restrict access to
information and introduces penalties for those who seek ways around
government-ordered online blocks and filters.

Many political websites, particularly those sympathetic to former prime
minister Thaksin, remain inaccessible, and many popular online forums
continue to be compromised by "requests" from government to manually
monitor every comment posted.

We are also concerned at proposals for a national security bill that would
impose restrictions on freedom of movement, assembly and information, and
to suppress groups, individuals and organisations perceived as posing a
"threat" to national security.

We respectfully call on you to take all necessary steps to create an
environment in which journalists and citizens are able to fully exercise
their rights to free expression without fear of prosecution and
intimidation. We urge you to do everything possible to ensure that in
future your country fully respects international standards of freedom of
expression.

We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Gavin O'Reilly
President
World Association of Newspapers

George Brock
President
World Editors Forum

WAN is the global organization for the newspaper industry, with formal
representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of
Europe. The organization groups 18,000 newspapers in 102 countries, 11 news
agencies and nine regional and world-wide press groups. WAN is
non-governmental and non-profit.