This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/01/australian-and-thai-journalists-found-not-guilty-of-defaming-thai-navy

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Australian and Thai journalists found not guilty of defaming Thai navy Australian and Thai journalists found not guilty of defaming Thai navy
(about 4 hours later)
An Australian editor and his Thai reporter colleague were found not guilty on Tuesday of criminal defamation for reporting on the alleged involvement of Thai naval officers in the trafficking of Burmese Rohingya refugees.An Australian editor and his Thai reporter colleague were found not guilty on Tuesday of criminal defamation for reporting on the alleged involvement of Thai naval officers in the trafficking of Burmese Rohingya refugees.
Alan Morison, editor of independent news website Phuketwan, and reporter Chutima Sidasathian faced up to seven years in jail and thousands of US dollars in fines. “We’re delighted. It’s such a wonderful day for media freedom and Thai justice. When the judge read out the verdict there was a huge sense of relief. And there was a round of applause when we left the court house,” Alan Morison, editor of independent news website Phuketwan, told the Guardian on the telephone.
Speaking to the Guardian ahead of the court session, Morison said that the year-long case had deeply affected the duo’s daily life in Phuket, a tourist hotspot in the Andaman Sea. He and reporter Chutima Sidasathian faced up to seven years in jail and thousands of US dollars in fines.
“We’ve felt constant pressure one way or another,” he said on the telephone. “We’ve conscientiously used work as a diversion and evidently being sued by an organisation as mighty as the Royal Thai navy, you can’t help but feel some the pressure.” Morison said that the year-long case had deeply affected the duo’s daily life in Phuket, a tourist hotspot in the Andaman Sea.
He said he was “reasonably confident” that he would be acquitted as the lawyers had worked hard and the judge appeared to have listened to what he said. “We’ve felt constant pressure one way or another,” he said before the court session. “We’ve conscientiously used work as a diversion and evidently being sued by an organisation as mighty as the Royal Thai navy, you can’t help but feel some the pressure.”
But he was worried that he might not be getting the full picture. “The thing is that nobody is ever going to tell us that they’ve heard is bad things … We’re living in a kind of fairyland before the verdict.”
The case – widely condemned by human rights and media freedom groups – has damaged Thailand’s reputation. Morison, who is 67, had said a guilty verdict would be a death sentence for him at his age.The case – widely condemned by human rights and media freedom groups – has damaged Thailand’s reputation. Morison, who is 67, had said a guilty verdict would be a death sentence for him at his age.
A note posted before the trial on the Phuketwan website said: “Two Phuketwan journalists face judgement day in the trial triggered by the Royal Thai navy so the island’s online news source of preference is suspended from September 1. The future of the site has yet to be determined.”A note posted before the trial on the Phuketwan website said: “Two Phuketwan journalists face judgement day in the trial triggered by the Royal Thai navy so the island’s online news source of preference is suspended from September 1. The future of the site has yet to be determined.”
The defamation claims and charges under the Computer Crime Act, which bans online material considered a threat to national security, relate to a 41-word paragraph from a Reuters news agency report on Rohingya refugees, which was republished in Phuketwan.The defamation claims and charges under the Computer Crime Act, which bans online material considered a threat to national security, relate to a 41-word paragraph from a Reuters news agency report on Rohingya refugees, which was republished in Phuketwan.
Reuters, a huge news organisation of more than 2,600 journalists which won a Pulitzer prize for its reporting on the Rohingya issue, has not been charged.Reuters, a huge news organisation of more than 2,600 journalists which won a Pulitzer prize for its reporting on the Rohingya issue, has not been charged.
Thailand’s navy has denied its officers were involved in human trafficking. But since the charges were made against the two journalists, the Thai government has launched investigations into official complicity into the trafficking trade and a senior military official was arrested.Thailand’s navy has denied its officers were involved in human trafficking. But since the charges were made against the two journalists, the Thai government has launched investigations into official complicity into the trafficking trade and a senior military official was arrested.
Morison said he was going to think over the next few days whether to continue the Phuketwan website. “We certainly want the work we were doing on behalf of the Rohingya to continue in one way or another.”
Free at last! Alan & Oi of @Bigislandmedia outside the #Phuket court house talking to media about dismissed charges pic.twitter.com/VyP32NehXC
He said he was pleased that the judge ruled that the Computer Crimes Act should be used against hackers and cybercrime and not for journalists.
Josef Benedict, Amnesty International’s Southeast Asia campaigns director, said the acquittal was a positive decision. “But the fact is that they should never have had to stand trial in the first place let alone face the possibility of years in jail. The Thai authorities have again shown their disregard for freedom of expression by pursuing this case.”
Thailand’s ruling junta, which toppled the government in a coup last May, has stifled the media and banned political gatherings.Thailand’s ruling junta, which toppled the government in a coup last May, has stifled the media and banned political gatherings.
Phil Robertson, deputy director for the Asia division of Human Rights Watch, said ahead of the verdict that the “case should have never been brought to trial in the first place, and the fact that it was shows this Thai government’s total lack of concern for media freedom”. Phil Robertson, deputy director for the Asia division of Human Rights Watch, was observing the court and said there “was a great deal of elation.”
He added: “This whole episode shows a fundamental lack of understanding among Thai government and military officials about what a free press is really about and the role it plays in democratic society.” “This nightmare is finally over. It is an important victory for media freedom in Thailand,” he said. But, he warned: “There is further work to be done in amending the Computer Crimes Act and doing away with criminal defamation.”
Hooray! Both charges dismissed against #Phuketwan journalists, Alan and Oi free to go! Big victory for media freedom in #Thailand says @hrw