Thailand's press freedom ranking drops

From the 134th place in 2015, Thailand is ranked 136th in 2016 out of 180 countries, according to the Paris-based press freedom-advocating organisation.

In its country report, the organisation lamented that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) exercises permanent control over journalists and citizen-journalists. 

"Ubiquitous and all-powerful, the NCPO summons them for questioning and detains them arbitrarily. Its leader, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, is given to frequent verbal attacks and even death threats against journalists. He is a new predator of information," it said. 

Among Asean nations, only Cambodia and Indonesia do better in terms of press freedom. Cambodia, at 128th, saw its ranking move up by 11 places. The ranking of Indonesia, at 130th, also moved up by 8 places. 

The worst performer this year is Brunei of which ranking dropped 34 places to 155th. 

Here are the rankings of other Asean nations;

Country Ranking Change 

Laos 173              (-2)

Myanmar 143     (+1)

Philippines 138    (+3)

Singapore 154     (-1)

Malaysia 146       (+1) 

Vietnam  175      no change

 

According to Reporters Without Borders, the 2016 World Press Freedom Index reflects the intensity of the attacks on journalistic freedom and independence by governments, ideologies and private-sector interests during the past year.

The latest benchmark shows that Europe still has the freest media, followed distantly by Africa, which for the first time overtook the Americas, a region where violence against journalists is on the rise. Asia and Eastern Europe/Central Asia follow, while North Africa/Middle East is still the region where journalists are most subjected to constraints of every kind.

"It is unfortunately clear that many of the world’s leaders are developing a form of paranoia about legitimate journalism,” said Christophe Deloire, the secretary general of the organisation. 

“The climate of fear results in a growing aversion to debate and pluralism, a clampdown on the media by ever more authoritarian and oppressive governments, and reporting in the privately-owned media that is increasingly shaped by personal interests. Journalism worthy of the name must be defended against the increase in propaganda and media content that is made to order or sponsored by vested interests. Guaranteeing the public’s right to independent and reliable news and information is essential if humankind’s problems, both local and global, are to be solved.”