SEAPA | Southeast Asian Press Alliance

Bangkok - The Thailand Constitutional Court yesterday ruled that the controversial Section 112 of the Penal Code, better known as the lèse majesté law, is not contradictory with human rights protections of the country’s constitution, including on freedom of expression.

The Court ruled on two petitions submitted the Criminal Court from the arguments of Somyos Preuksakasemsuk and Ekachai Hongkangwan, who are both undergoing separate trials under Section 112. Ekachai is out on bail, but Somyos remains under detention despite 11 requests for release on bail.

Arguments

The main argument of the unanimous ruling is that Article 112 gives a ‘real practical effect’ to Section 8 of the 2007 Constitution (B.E. 2549) that puts the monarch in a ‘position of revered worship’ and ‘shall not be violated’. Section 8 also prohibits any person from exposing the King to any form of accusation or action.

CMFR/Philippines – Two journalists were attacked after interviewing local politicians in Marawi City last 1 October 2012. Marawi City is approximately 818 kilometers south of Manila.

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and Media Defence Southeast Asia (MD-SEA) are gravely alarmed by the 20-year prison sentence imposed on Mr. Mam Sonando, 70, and owner and director of an independent radio station in Phnom Penh. We believe Mam Sonando is the victim of a grave injustice arising from his consistent opposition to the ruling party, as well as independent broadcasting of social and political issues plaguing the country through his radio station, Beehive (105 mhz. FM).

CMFR/Philippines – Five men on motorcycles, at least two of whom were armed, pointed a handgun and an assault rifle at a radio station manager, his family and another radio staffmember in Sorsogon province last 23 September 2012. Sorsogon is a province approximately 373 kilometers south of Manila.

Manila - Twenty media organizations and more than 250 individuals, comprised mostly of journalists and media practitioners, filed the ninth petition with the Supreme Court (SC) against the Cybercrime Prevention Act, assailing some of its provisions as unconstitutional.

The petitioners asked the SC to rule on the Cybercrime Prevention Act or Republic Act (RA) No. 10175, a law which the petitioners say establishes a regime of ‘cyber authoritarianism’ and ” undermines all the fundamental guarantees of freedoms and liberties that many have given their lives and many still give their lives work to vindicate, restore and defend.”

CMFR/ Philippines – An editor of a weekly newspaper was assaulted by a businessman and brother of a town mayor in the province of Sorsogon last 23 September 2012. Sorsogon is 373 kilometers south of Manila.