Police say journalists have been charged with collaborating in vandalising an historic web site in an incident final 12 months.
Two Thai journalists who have been arrested for reporting concerning the vandalism of a temple in Bangkok with anti-monarchist graffiti have been launched on bail, a lawyer’s group has stated.
Nattaphol Meksobhon, a reporter from the impartial on-line information outlet Prachatai, and freelance photographer Nattaphon Phanphongsanon have been arrested on Monday, practically a 12 months after the incident in Bangkok.
The Royal Palace police station, which made the arrests, stated Meksobhon and Phanphongsanon have been charged with collaborating in vandalising an historic web site.
Nutthaphol wrote a narrative and Natthapon took a video of the incident, which was extensively reported.
The offence is punishable by as much as seven years in jail and a 700,000 baht ($19,600) fantastic.
The 2 arrested males have stated they have been solely finishing up their jobs as journalists.
The fees contain a March 28, 2023, incident during which a 25-year-old activist spray-painted an anarchist image and the quantity 112 with a line by means of it on the outside wall of the revered Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is within the Grand Palace advanced.
The quantity 112 is a reference to the “lese majeste” legislation, which protects the royal household from criticism.
The Thai journalists affiliation defended the 2 journalists and stated they have been involved about “damaging media rights and freedom” within the nation.
“It was needed for journalists to cowl the information,” it stated.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stated on Tuesday that the federal government is “truthful” on freedom of the press and stated it’s as much as the police to find out what is suitable.
“Every little thing depends upon the legislation. There isn’t any harassment,” he stated.
The group Thai Attorneys for Human Rights stated the 2 journalists have been held in a single day at separate police stations after their arrests and have been taken on Tuesday to Bangkok Felony Courtroom, the place they have been launched on bail after posting a bond of 35,000 baht ($980) every.
The editor of Prachatai Information stated the journalists who coated the story went to the temple with out figuring out prematurely that it will be graffitied.
“They have been masking the information as journalists,” Tewarit Maneechai stated.
He added that his colleagues have been unaware of their costs earlier than their arrest regardless of a warrant issued in Could.
“Their arrests created concern about information protection of delicate points,” he stated. Within the World Press Freedom Index in 2023, Thailand ranked 106 out of 180 nations.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Phawat Wattasupat, deputy superintendent of Phra Ratchawang police station, instructed the Reuters information company that police had adequate info to help their arrests.
