Gagging free speech, a recipe for trouble down the line?

In the first issue, a group of military officers met with senior executives of public broadcaster Thai PBS, demanding that its programme “People’s voices that need to be heard before the reform” be suspended. The pressure led to a decision by the station’s management to replace the programme’s host, Nattaya Wawweerakup.
In the second issue, the military banned a planned concert and talk show entitled “Our country, whose land?”
Following the ban, the organisations decided to organise a press conference, but again the military would not allow the event to be held. The organisers were invited to a police station for some “attitude adjustment” before being released soon afterwards.
It is clear that people in the NCPO were aware of the acts by the military officers in question. As a result, they have been accused of media harassment and restriction of expression.
These latest moves by the military have made the people involved uncomfortable. It comes at a time when the government is attempting to create a perception that the power seizure and its ongoing efforts are aimed at bringing about reconciliation and reform.
It is true that peace is among the country’s top priorities in this situation, when the country is still reeling from years of destructive political conflict. However, it is unacceptable for the military to restrict the freedom of expression. It does not “own” the ongoing reform, and other groups of people outside the reform process should also be allowed to speak publicly on how the country should be reformed.
The controversy over restricted media freedom and right of expression is likely to die down soon. And the people in power will go ahead with their road map for national reform. People who disagree with them may not be able to do anything but stay silent.
However, you cannot be sure that the public will view what the people in power are doing as a real “reform”. If they cannot do it now, many people will wait for a time when the situation permits them to express their views freely. It may mean a new round of severe social conflict, at a time when the country is returning to normalcy. Many people will come out to demand a reform in which all sides are allowed to take part. That is when they do not have to stay silent and pretend the country is peaceful.
Looking back, during the drafting of the 2007 constitution, following the coup of September 2006, people expressed their opinions more freely than today – although martial law was also in effect in many areas of the country.
This time, expression of opinion seems to be limited mostly to members of the National Reform Council (NRC) and the Constitution Drafting Committee. Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said, “We allowed the NRC to be set up and you did not apply to become its members. We are open to all matters regarding reform. But you still want to break the law. You can tell the NRC what you want to be done and they will take care of it.”
This is how the military sees the way reform is activated. They may be unaware of the need for diversity. People outside the system they set up should also be allowed to offer input to reform ideas. Please be reminded that what they are drafting are the country’s top laws.
It is not too late to adjust the stance and the way of thinking. In fact, many NRC members have expressed their concern that the military’s tough stance could make it difficult for them to progress smoothly.
The military rulers may attempt to avoid the mistakes of past coup-makers who made little change and ended up “wasting their coup”. However, they also have to realise that too much of a tough stance could also alienate their allies and supporters, and in the end their efforts would be unavoidably wasted.