Censorship in Thailand is very significant. Harassment, manipulation, and strict control of political news was common under the Thaksin government (2001–2006), restrictions and media harassment worsened after a military junta overthrew the Thaksin government in a 2006 coup,[1] and increased in the Abhisit era (2008–2011).[2]
Freedom of speech was guaranteed in the 1997 Constitution of Thailand[3] and those guarantees continue in the 2007 Constitution.[4] Mechanisms for censorship have included strict lèse majesté laws, direct government/military control over the broadcast media, and the use of economic and political pressure.[5] Criticism of the King is banned by the Constitution, although most lèse majesté cases have been directed at foreigners, or at Thai opponents of political, social and commercial leaders.[6]
Thailand ranked 59th out of 167 countries in 2004 and then fell to 107th out of 167 countries in 2005 in the worldwide Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders.[7][8] Thailand's ranking fell to 153rd out of 178 in 2010[9] and rose to 137th out of 179 in 2011–2012.[10] In the 2014 index, Thailand ranked 130 of 180 nations.[11]