STATEMENT FROM THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE

The Foreign Correspondents Association of Singapore stands in support of our colleagues in Thailand, and with the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) in Hong Kong, in condemning the criminal defamation and Computer Crimes Act case in Thailand against Jonathan Head, the BBC’s Southeast Asia correspondent.

Head faces one charge of criminal defamation, which carries up to two years in jail and an additional charge under the Computer Crimes Act, which has a five-year maximum jail penalty. He has had to surrender his passport to the court and faces a likely two-year battle in court, which renders him unable to work across the Asian region.

The FCA calls on the Thai authorities to dismiss the case against Head, which were initiated by a private citizen. We strongly believe that journalists should be at liberty to undertake their work responsibly; that private citizens should not be able to bring a case of criminal defamation to the courts; and that defamation should be a civil case, not a criminal case in the courts. Such laws should not be used to stymie investigative journalism.

Like the FCC, we believe this case threatens press freedom in Thailand and deprives Thai citizens of access to reliable information.

FURTHER STATEMENT FROM THE BBC

The BBC stands by its journalism and we will fight the allegations made against our correspondent by these proceedings. We have full faith in the Thai justice system, and we intend to clear the name of our correspondent. We will not be making any further statements at this time.

Signed,The Committee of the Foreign Correspondents Association of Singapore

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This statement is issued on behalf of the FCA Singapore by PINPOINT PR Pte. Ltd.