Are we not allowed to have
opinions disagreeing with our government? The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights has given us the ability to express how we feel about certain subjects.
It also states there would be no interference from holding personal ideas, regardless
of the media used to express those ideas. The Thai Government is inhibiting
critics of the government from speaking out and giving their opinions. The Thai
Government is restricting the rights of expression, along with the right of association,
and assembly, because they fear another uprising after the attempted coup that
occurred on May 22nd of this year. The Thai people are not allowed
to speak out or demonstrate ideas denouncing the government. Doing so has led
to more than 300 arrests by the Thai military who are supporting the Monarchy.
In May Thanapol Eawsakul was
detained for the first time after he was summoned under martial law. He was
forced to sign an agreement that he would not give his opinion about the government
or be involved in political activities. He was also not allowed to leave the
country unless he had permission from the National Council for Peace and Order.
His non-compliance with this order would result in a sentenced of two year in
prison or fined 40,000 baht, about $1,250. He then made a comment to only
explain his situation on Facebook. Later he received a phone call from a
military officer wanting to meet and discuss his posting. He was told he would
not be arrested before the meeting, but he was. This law is trying to stop another
populist uprising and possible coup, but the opposite effect is happening and
the people are becoming angry and agitated by the government’s crackdown. The
government cannot control the thoughts and opinions held by their citizens.
Restricting expressions instead of having open forms of debates increases the
chance of another uprising. Is this law trying to prevent change to a society
that wants it by suppressing people’s rights or is it arresting and detaining
people that committed crimes in the May 22nd coup? A legitimate
government complying with the laws and having the support of the people should
have no reason to restrict the right of expression. This tyrannical government is
likely short lived.
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