Press more free
By THONGBAI THONGPAO

Bangkok Post–09/24/2007

After more than six decades, relentless efforts by Thai journalists to push for the abolition of the Publishing Act paid off when
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the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) Great rates from US$ 79 + taxes. Book now with best passed a new law to take its place. Enforced rate guarantee during the government of Field Marshal Plaek www.Amari.com/Boulevard Pibulsongkram in 1941, the old law is counted among the legacies of dictators that have no place in modern society. It curbs the freedom of newspapers, which is tantamount to shutting the eyes and ears of the people. CELTA teacher training
Teacher training in Thailand in Bangkok, Chiang MaiIn addition to being inherently dictatorial, the and Phuket law was made stricter through four www.eccthai.com amendments in the form of orders after the Oct 6, 1976 massacre of university students.

Under the 1941 law, the launch of a newspaper had to be approved by "publishing officers" -the chief of the police, the commander of the Police Special Branch, or a provincial governor. If these people did not give a nod, the newspaper could not be published.
The law also granted the publishing officers the authority to shut down any existing newspaper operation by citing any violation of the law, which is very easy to do because of the wide scope of the law.

The officers were also empowered to check or censor any news report. They could order the editor to send articles and news reports for their review and censorship prior to publication, even during times of peace. In reviewing the content, they could cut or prohibit the publishing of any articles or reports as they saw fit. Violations to their orders were punishable by law.
These curbs of liberties came on top of the provisions of the Penal Code under which newspapers and their editors are liable to libel, lese majeste and treason suits, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment.

Up until now, the old ploy used by various leaders was to agree to scrap the controversial law while trying to introduce the so-called security law, which has clauses which curb the freedom of newspapers even more, to take its place.

For these reasons, the NLA, led by its journalist members, pushed for a new law to repeal the 1941 Act. Through the support of other NLA members, as well as the government and the CNS, the new law sailed through and should take effect soon. It came in the form of a new law officially called the Publishing Registration Act B.E. 2550 (2007).

Under the new law, all publishers of print and electronic media -whether available for sale or distributed free of charge -must be 20 years of age and reside in Thailand. If they have ever been sentenced to imprisonment, they must have been discharged for not less than three years, except for an offence committed through negligence or a petty offence. This rule also applies to a juristic person.

Newspapers issued in the Kingdom must register their publications using the standard form. They must declare the nationalities and residences of the publishers, editors and owners. They must also put on record the names of the newspapers, their objectives, types, languages, names and locations of the printers and places of publication, as well as the names and addresses of their offices.

Upon receiving the registration form, competent officials shall consider and inform the registering party of the result without delay. Any mistake in the records must be amended within 15 days.

The names of the newspapers must not be the same or similar to those of the Royal Family or other newspapers, and must not contain rude words. An editor must be 20 years old or more, hold Thai nationality or the nationality of one of Thailand's allied countries and have a residence in Thailand.

A non-Thai who wishes to be an editor must be approved based on criteria, methods and conditions to be determined by a ministerial regulation. For a newspaper owned by a juristic person, no less than 70% of all shares must be held by Thais and no less than three-thirds of the board members must be Thai. Any changes in shareholding must be sent to the officers in charge within 30 days.
Penalties for violations to these requirements are pretty light, with the biggest fine of not more than 20,000 baht. Offences such as issuing a newspaper without registering or declaring false information or having wrong shareholding or board structure are subject to imprisonment of not more six months, a fine, or both. However, newspapers remain subject to charges of libel or lese majeste.

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