[RE: UG-018-2006: THAILAND: UN rights bodies must act urgently to address junta; UP-189-2006: THAILAND: Illegal detention of former government ministers; UP-190-2006: THAILAND: Websites and radio stations shut down by military junta]
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THAILAND: Military rule; martial law; threats to human rights defenders; restrictions on freedom of assembly & expression
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Dear friends,
As the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) informed you in our last update on Thailand, the new military junta there has shut down websites and radio stations and is closely monitoring the media (UP-190-2006). A local media rights group has called for a protest this Wednesday, October 11, against these actions, to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the 1997 Constitution. Please join the protest if you are in Bangkok, or make protest actions outside the Thai diplomatic mission in your own country.
The AHRC is repeating below the call to join a protest organised by the Bangkok-based Campaign for Popular Media Reform, on this October 11 at the Democracy Monument.
For persons outside Bangkok or Thailand, please consider organising your own protest actions to coincide with this event, or later if you cannot do it on the same day. For instance, you could hold a gathering or submit a letter to the local Thai government mission in your country or town. For a sample letter on the issue, see the previous appeal: UP-190-2006. See also the open letter on the same issue by the international monitoring group Reporters Without Borders.
STATEMENT OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR POPULAR MEDIA REFORM
Stop blocking the freedom of thought and expression: Please join in mourning over the 1997 Constitution and holding lights for the return of civil liberties
The coup detat on September 19, 2006 resulted in the abolition of the 1997 Constitution, nine years since its declaration on October 11, 1997. It is deeply sorrowful for Thai society that the regulations and intentions regarding rights and freedom in the constitution were invalidated.
Moreover, we can see that the powers-that-be have run the measures affecting the rights and freedom of people, such as the order closing community radio stations on the one hand and commanding community radio stations to broadcast military information regularly on the other; shutting websites which have political criticism, like www.19sep.org and www.midnightuniv.org; using legal action against critics who have political expression, like the criminal charge against Associate Professor Giles Ungphakorn, and other measures limiting civil rights and freedom of expression.
The Campaign for Popular Media Reform (CPMR) considers that the above actions obstruct the opinion expression and violate civil and political rights. Meanwhile, it emphasizes the climate of fear and frustration in Thai society. So, the public needs to participate in upholding the principle of free expression by opening public spaces for debate, protecting dissident voices and encouraging different opinions to be heard.
Political freedom is not only the freedom to examine the Thaksin regime, but it is also the citizens freedom to scrutinise state power at all levels, regardless of any political circumstances.
On the occasion of nine years since the declaration of the 1997 Constitution, this October 11, 2006 the CPMR kindly invites you, the public, community network members, colleagues and press to join activities to commemorate the 1997 Constitution on Wednesday October 11, 2006, holding lights to ask for rights, freedom and democracy.
9.00am Stand and mourn the Constitution for 90 minutes (from 9 years to 0) at the Democracy Monument, Ratchadamnoen Road
1.00pm Press conference and forum calling for the return of articles 39, 40, and 41 under the 1997 constitution by the CPMR at Royal Rattanakosin Hotel, Ratchadamnoen Road
7.00pm Join in holding lights for civil liberties at the Democracy Monument
— Campaign for Popular Media Reform (CPMR), 6 October 2006
For any further information, please contact CPMR: +66-2-691 0574
[E-mail: freemediapeople@yahoo.com]
Free expression is essential for democratic society.
We want a climate of freedom from fear and favor!
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
