To highlight its important role in 60 years of promoting human rights and freedom of the press, the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) will organize a charity golf tournament, where the winners will be awarded trophies by Thailand’s current junta leader and a former unelected prime minister from the military.

 

Pradit Ruangrit, President of the TJA who now serves as a member of the junta’s National Reform Committee, announced on Monday that the TJA will organize a charity golf tournament to celebrate its 60th anniversary and to raise funds for the new TJA office. 

 

The biggest tournament prizes are trophies from Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, President of the Privy Council, former appointed PM and a key military network figure, and from Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, who staged the coup in May, both of whom symbolise military regimes which are the enemy of human rights and freedom of expression. 

 

Despite the fact that the TJA has never voiced concerns for political dissidents, lèse majesté prisoners and anti-establishment media who have suffered suppression and arrests after the coup d’état, Pradit stated that the TJA has played a vital role in fighting for human rights and freedom in the past 60 years.

 

The golf tournament is also supported by many of Thailand’s top conglomerates, such as Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), the Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), and the Singha Corporation.