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(New York) -- Thailand's government should withdraw the threat to deport two journalists with the Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER), Human Rights Watch said today, reminding Thailand of its obligations as a party to international human rights treaties guaranteeing the right of free expression.

"This is an ominous move from a country that's been one of the freest in Asia,” said Mike Jendrzejczyk, Washington director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division. “Thailand's reputation internationally and in the region will suffer if the Thai government doesn't reinstate the visas of the two FEER journalists."

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protects, under article 19, everyone's right to "seek, receive and impart information of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print..." Thailand is a party to the covenant.

Human Rights Watch also expressed concern about a statement yesterday by Thai police that they are considering banning distribution of The Economist, a British magazine, because the latest edition contains an article about the royal family that may be "offensive.”

Rodney Tasker and Shawn Crispin, correspondents for the Review based in Bangkok, had their visas cancelled on February 22 because of an article published in the magazine's January 10th (cover date) edition describing tensions between Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Thailand's king, Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Following its publication, the Review received a letter from the Commander of the Police Special Branch Bureau 2 claiming that the article was "a possible threat to peace and morality of the people" under Thailand's Print Act of 1941. However, the visas were revoked under the Thai Immigration Act on the grounds that the two reporters were deemed a threat to national security. The decision is being appealed to the Thailand Immigration Committee, chaired by the interior minister.

“Thailand will seriously damage its reputation and undermine its commitment to international human rights if these two respected reporters lose their work visas or are deported,” said Jendrzejczyk.

On February 27, Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun warned that Tasker and Crispin could face criminal charges, but it was unclear under what laws they might be charged.

Thailand's 1997 constitution contains a provision outlawing criticism of the royal family: it specifies that "no person shall expose the King to any sort of accusation or action."

Thailand's press has been considered one of the most outspoken in Southeast Asia. But the FEER case has raised questions in Thailand about Prime Minister Thaksin's unwillingness to tolerate public criticism of his government, which came into office last year, and could have a chilling effect on others in the media.

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