Democracy & Civics

Thailand: No Free Speech for Critics of Royals

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Thai officials said recently that the government has identified more than 10,000 websites that supposedly insult the country’s monarchy. Insulting Thailand’s king or any members of the royal family is a criminal offense and punishable by time in prison, according to the Southeast Asian Press Alliance. Reports indicate the number of Web sites allegedly insulting the monarchy is increasing, even though the government already blocked 2,300 and has plans to block 400 more. One former Thai minister told The Straits Times that Thailand’s “lese majeste” law — which protects King Bhumibol and his family from criticism — have created the problem, usually spurring court cases that “take up a lot of people’s time.” Media and rights activists are opposed to such protections, and Dr. Tej Bunnag, a former royal advisor, said efforts have been made to amend the law, but did not provide details.

Democracy & Civics

Amid Colombia's Violence, Gandhi's Ghost

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Colombia’s “indigenous guard” is pursuing nonviolence as a means of enforcing justice for the country’s 92 tribal communities, according to The Dominion, an Canadian publication. Hemmed in by violent drug trafficking, and conflict between government soldiers and rebels, around 1.5 million Indians are looking to confront kidnappings, murders and greed with unarmed confrontations and community-based reconciliation assemblies. Rodrigo Dagua, leader of the Jambalo tribe, told the Los Angeles Times: “We forbid violence. All we have is the power to convene.” In late November 2008, when seven villagers were kidnapped from Jambalo, in Southwest Colombia, hundreds of community members banded together, successfully found the hostages and freed them peacefully, despite the rebels’ threat of force, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Democracy & Civics

Tribes Press Obama on Renewable Energy

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Claiming that they will bear a disproportionate burden due to global warming, a coalition of American Indian tribes is requesting the Obama administration to support tribally owned or operated renewable-energy projects. The group represents around 250 tribes and their affiliates, and also hopes the new administration will direct a bevy of green jobs to the native nations, according to Indian Country Today. At present, companies working with renewable energy technologies shy away from joint ventures with tribes because they lose tax credit privileges. Tribal representatives highlighted the energy potential of their lands, saying wind and solar projects could produce billions of kilowatts per year. They also said investments in renewable energy would yield more jobs per dollar than ongoing investments in fossil fuels.

Featured

To the East, Radio Silence

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Azerbaijan’s move to take over airwaves formerly controlled by the BBC and the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe has raised fears of shifting regional alliances, and government censorship in a still-emerging democracy. Photo: Flavijus

Democracy & Civics

In Azerbaijan, Radio Silence

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At the start of 2009, Azerbaijan enacted a ban blocking international radio stations from using local frequencies, raising fears of censorship and shifting international alliances. The ban targets broadcasts by the British Broadcasting Corporation, as well as the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America, according to the Moscow Times. As of January 1, all Azerbaijan radio frequencies became government property and no foreign broadcasting licenses will be renewed. Although foreign broadcasters will still be able to find an audience using satellite, Internet and cable technologies in Azerbaijan, the ban will eliminate the majority of the stations’ regular audience. Kenan Aliyev, director of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Azerbaijan, told the Christian Science Monitor, “If we lose FM, we lose 95 percent of our audience.”