Cabinet Gives Green Light To Increase Penalties for Distributing Publications Defaming the Institution
Submitted by prachatai on Fri, 21/10/2011 - 14:04After the cabinet meeting on 18 Oct, Minister of Culture Sukumol Kunplome told reporters that the cabinet had approved amendments to the 2007 Print Registration Act as proposed by the Ministry.
The amendments include 7 points:
1. Any print media, excluding newspapers, printed in the kingdom must identify itself by category according to criteria set by ministerial regulation;
2. The National Police Chief is authorized to ban the printing, distribution or import of any printed media which affects the monarchy, national security or public order and morals;
3. Publishers must publish within 60 days after receiving permission;
4. Publishers must identify in the printed materials the category and ISBN of each publication as issued by the National Library of Thailand, and must submit two copies to the National Library of Thailand;
5. The name of the publication must not be the same as or similar to any of the name or abbreviation of any state agency;
6. Publishers who do not submit copies of their publication to the National Library of Thailand within a specified timeframe will be fined up to 10,000 baht; and
7. Those who violate a banning order by the National Police Chief will be punished with a jail term of up to three years or a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both.
A rating system for printed media will also be introduced in the law because currently newspapers, magazines and journals are found to have violent and pornographic content and pictures which are not appropriate for young readers who might imitate them, she said.
The Ministry of Culture will work out the details of the rating system appropriate to Thai society. The amendments will be vetted by the Council of State before being forwarded to Parliament, the Minister said.
Related news:
The National Police Chief is
Submitted by john francis lee (not verified) on Fri, 21/10/2011 - 15:54.Anything at all in other words. The National Police Chief has absolute authority over the press in Thailand. Thailand is ipso facto a police state.
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
! JES, THIS IS THE TRUTH !
Submitted by MIKEL (not verified) on Thu, 03/11/2011 - 19:43.! JES, THIS IS THE TRUTH ! THE THAI COURT MUST RESPECT ARTICLE 19 !
The National Police Chief is
Submitted by john francis lee (not verified) on Fri, 21/10/2011 - 15:55.Anything at all in other words. The National Police Chief has absolute authority over the press in Thailand. Thailand is ipso facto a police state.
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Thai Rath newspaper
Submitted by Frank G Anderson (not verified) on Sat, 22/10/2011 - 07:18.The Thai Rath newspaper headline on this story actually reads, "Cabinet Gives Green Light To Increase Penalties for Defaming the Institution."
The Thai Rath article importantly mentions that the announcement of the changes was made by the Minister of Justice after coming out of a Cabinet meeting, and that the proposed changes were introduced by the Ministry.
Editorially, this increased emphasis on silence and repression has long-term implications for any human rights/civil rights protection efforts in Thailand, certainly toward what is domestically regarded as "evil free speech," as it reiterates the cooperation of the nation's courts, the entire judicial regime, in pursuing harsh measures against those who are "deemed" by others, themselves who have suspect and unsupportable (outside Thailand) views.
Point 2 of the new regulations as announced in Thai Rath states that police have the authority to issue orders prohibiting printing, importation into the Kingdom or sending into the Kingdom that impact the monarchy, national security, public peace and order and morals.
Apologies for poor
Submitted by Frank G Anderson (not verified) on Sat, 22/10/2011 - 07:21.Apologies for poor editing...
Point 2 of the new regulations as announced in Thai Rath states that police have the authority to issue orders prohibiting printing, importation into the Kingdom or sending into the Kingdom printed matter or newspapers that impact the monarchy, national security, public peace and order and morals.
Need to go back to bed and
Submitted by Frank G Anderson (not verified) on Sat, 22/10/2011 - 07:28.Need to go back to bed and get up again...
Correction #2:
"Cabinet Gives Green Light To Increase Penalties for Distributing Publications Defaming the Institution."
Like rolling the dice -
Submitted by Frank G Anderson (not verified) on Sun, 23/10/2011 - 05:32.Like rolling the dice - occasionally they will come up winners. Need to read what I write first, then post it. Bad habit.
Anyway, carry on with the good work.
All the best,
Frank