Drop charges against honest journalists

Our world is increasingly becoming a difficult place for honest, truth-seeking journalists. Truth matters and hurts corrupt officials and politicians. It is in their interest that they want to stop free flow of information and as such harass honest journalists.


This point is once again underscored in matters relating to  corruption within the Royal Thai Navy. Phuketwan editor Alan Morison and journalist Chutima Sidasathien are being sued under the defamation law and Computer Crimes Act. The charges stem from one paragraph, copied from a Pulitzer Prize-winning Reuters story which examined Thailand's role in the trafficking of Rohingya migrants, published in 2013.

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a statement calling for all charges to be dropped because "international human rights standards uphold the right of journalists and others to disseminate information that is of legitimate public interest". "Freedom of the press, including freedom for journalists to operate without fear of reprisals, is essential in promoting transparency and accountability on issues of public interest," it said.
You can read more about the trial by clicking here.

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