The following is a CPJ letter to Thai Prime Minister Samak
Sundaravej:

February 14, 2008

His Excellency Samak Sundaravej
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Royal Government of Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand

Via facsimile: 011-662-629-8213

Dear Prime Minister Samak:

The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the installation of your
popularly elected government, marking a welcome return to democracy after a
period of military rule that often worked at odds with Thailand's proud
tradition of press freedom.

As your government assumes the reins of power, we urgently call upon you to
uphold the various press freedom guarantees enshrined in the 2007
Constitution and consider the repeal of any remaining restrictions on the
media enacted by the previous military government.

As an independent, nongovernmental organization dedicated to defending
press freedom worldwide, we strongly urge you to return Thailand to the
path of press freedom and allow all journalists to do their jobs free of
intimidation, harassment, and censorship.

In meetings last week with several Thai editors, reporters, and media
advocates, CPJ found that there are widespread concerns that your
government plans to follow in the footsteps of your military predecessors
by interfering with the work of the media.

We were alarmed to learn that earlier this month your office announced
plans to establish a task force charged with monitoring the "news balance"
of the broadcast media. CPJ is concerned that the task force's creation
could presage a return to the previous government's order to broadcasters
to report only positively about its administration and threats to censor
any news reports it deemed critical or seen as a threat to national unity
or security.

Similarly, we were troubled to learn about Prime Minister Office Minister
Jakrapob Penkair's widely reported public comments concerning his intention
to review the operations of the newly established Thai Public Broadcasting
Service. Minister Jakrapob's comments run counter to the news station's
mandate to operate free from government interference or influence over
editorial decision-making.

CPJ notes with regret that despite previous constitutional provisions
mandating the liberalization from state to private control of Thailand's
broadcast media, your country's six main television stations are still
monopolized by the government and military. We echo the calls of Thailand's
media reform advocates for your government to follow through on previous
broadcast media privatization designs in a transparent and politically
neutral manner.

We would also encourage your government to enact new legislation to provide
legal protection to the 3,000 or so community radio stations now in
operation across the country. These stations have operated in a legal
vacuum ever since the military seized power in the coup and abrogated the
1997 constitution, which included provisions allowing for the stations'
establishment and operation.

There is also an urgent need for amendments to the Computer Crime Act,
which was passed last year by your military predecessors and allows for the
authorities to censor news content over the Internet. We are particularly
concerned about provisions in the legislation that allow for the
imprisonment of writers who disseminate and viewers who access materials
that the government has banned, including those which touch critically on
the monarchy.

In light of the damage successive administrations have wrought upon
Thailand's tradition of press freedom, your government has a unique
opportunity to right the wrongs of your predecessors and, in the process,
firmly re-establish the country's credentials as a proudly democratic
nation.

Thank you for your attention and we eagerly await your positive response.

Sincerely,

Robert Dietz
Asia Program Director