Thai Printer Of International NYT Blocks Stories For Third Time

The New York Times decried limits on media freedom in Thailand on Dec 4 after its local printer refused to publish articles about the Southeast Asian country for a third time. The printer removed a column from the opinion page of Dec 4's edition of the International New York Times about Thailand's Crown Property Bureau, which manages the financial affairs of the royal family. The column said the bureau was not publicly accountable and its assets may total as much as $53 billion. Discussion of Thailand's monarchy is highly sensitive, and criticism can be punished by up to 15 years in prison. Instead of the column, the newspaper ran a blank space, with a notice in the middle saying "The article in this space was removed by our printer in Thailand. The International New York Times and its editorial staff had no role in its removal."

On Dec 2, the Thailand edition of the newspaper had a similar blank spot on its front page where there was supposed to be a story about the country's sagging economy and spirit a year and a half after a military takeover. The story briefly mentioned the monarchy. A statement on the corporate website of the New York Times said the printer's refusal to publish the articles denied readers in Thailand the right to open access to news.