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Article 19

“Access to information provides people with a strong

tool to increase their participation in public affairs”

Commentary

Mr. Kavi Chongkittavorn, Assistant Group Mr. Chongkittavorn proposes that to fully
Editor of The Nation Multimedia Group, agrees achieve the rights enshrined in Article 19 of Mr. Kavi Chongkittavorn
that the Official Information Act has proven to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it
be a crucial element in Thailand’s democratic is necessary to lift restrictions on the freedom
progress. Access to information provides of expression of the press and of the public
people with a strong tool to increase their that are currently imposed by criminal laws as
participation in public affairs, and it is also a well as 27 other laws. It is also important to
tool that can be used to counter corruption. promote the status and professionalism of the
“Ms. Rosana Tositrakul made proper use of the media. The government should respect press
Act in demanding the disclosure of all freedom, he says.
information that could be related to the
suspected corruption in the Public Health He believes that the State is duty bound to
Ministry,” he explains. provide people with the opportunity to
express their opinions and give them access
However, Mr. Chongkittavorn also points out to information, especially on the policies that
that despite these developments, several laws would directly affect people’s livelihoods.
in the country are believed to jeopardize the Disclosure or hindrance of the public right to
right to freedom of expression and the right information often leads to other violations of
to access to information. This includes, for public rights in different aspects. Ensuring the
example, the Emergency Decree on Public public’s right to information and freedom of
Administration in Emergency Situations expression would also empower the public to
(2005) and the Thai Computer-Related make more progress towards the realization
Offenses Act (2007), in which the freedom of of all the fundamental human rights.
expression and access to information on the
internet has been curtailed through filtering
measures taken by government agencies.

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