Freedom of speech still exists, Wissanu insists
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PEOPLE still have the freedom to express their political opinions as long as they don't violate the law, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam insisted.
He made this statement in response to a question posed by the host of the “Perd Jai Thai Khu Fah”, a government talk show broadcast on state-run Channel 11 on Thursday.
Wissanu denied the existence of any “special power” that controls people’s right of expression, saying that though the interim charter’s Article 44 gives the head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) absolute control over media, the press still continues criticising the junta and the government.
Despite this declaration, earlier on Thursday Wissanu warned that anybody using “provocative” language against the draft charter or the referendum on it would be prosecuted.
“It is illegal to send Line messages, SMS or video clips that are provocative, violent or abusive. Those doing this will face charges,” he said. “The thing is, don’t stir up violence with these messages. If it is a normal comment, that should be fine.”
He added that this resolution was made by relevant agencies.
Wissanu also said during the TV programme that the junta-appointed government had two major tasks besides administering the country.
“Administration, reform and reconciliation are all our missions,” he explained, “while other former governments held administration as their sole mission.”
The government and the National Legislative Assembly, said Wissanu, have succeeded in pushing reform-related legislation – particularly the Licensing Facilitation Act that will enable civil servants to work faster “so people do not need to bribe them for faster operation any more”.
The government, said Wissanu, is carrying out reform according to the NCPO’s three-step procedure.
The first step consists of tackling issues that the government can respond to immediately without legislative endorsement, such as introducing new measures to regulate bars. Tackling illegal fishery is another issue under an immediate reform plan.
Intermediate reform needs more time to tackle by law or through making the public aware such as the introduction of a construction tax.
He said the current regime would not be able to complete the third and last step, long-term reform, because of the time required.
Good planning and continuous action will be required to push for successful reform in such areas as bureaucratic and justice systems.
Asked what the government expects from itself after its first year in power, the deputy prime minister said: “No matter how many years we are in power, we are still in the second step [of the three-step procedure], and we are looking forward to seeing the third step implemented after an election.”
