Press freedom issues surfacing in Thailand

Two recent incidents have marred Thailand's reputation for having among the freest news media in the region.

In the first, two journalists working for the Hong Kong-based Far Eastern Economic Review were ordered expelled for a Jan. 10 article that alleged tension between King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The journalists are still in Bangkok pending an appeal that may be resolved by their magazine's submission of an apology. But the offending issue was banned.

More recently, distribution of The Economist magazine has been blocked in Thailand because it contains an article perceived to be critical of the monarchy.

While Thailand has a customary and legal ban on criticism of the palace, discussion of issues affecting future stability in Thailand are of great interest to the foreign investors who read the Review and The Economist. Thailand should recognize a distinct interest in assuring frank and unfettered analysis.

The bright spot in this flap is the spirited protest of the Review episode by Thai newspapers and journalism associations. They recognize, of course, that freedoms denied foreign journalists are freedoms denied them.