Thai journalist, Chiranuch Premchaiporn, to present final defense in online freedom case

Attacks on media workers continue across the globe, from targeted killings in Mexico and Pakistan to strict cybercrime laws in Angola and Thailand. The Committee to Protect Journalists annual Attacks on the Press report, released Tuesday, documents the risks faced by reporters worldwide. The report notes that innovations in technology have allowed journalists to break through censorship and to access a wider audience, such as during the uprisings across the Arab world in 2011, but that it also brings persecution and danger to journalists. In Thailand, a criminal case that pits the government’s increasing crackdown on the media  with Internet freedom wrapped up a key phase this month. Chiranuch Premchaiporn, editor of the online new site Prachatai, faces years in prison after the government charged her with violating a Computer Crimes Act after criticisms of the monarchy were posted to the comment section of the news site. Premchaiporn was originally arrested in March 2009 and this month in Bangkok, the government finished presenting its case against her. In 2011, Premchaiporn was awarded the Courage in Journalism Award from the International Women’s Media Foundation for her defense of online speech. At FSRN, we have followed her case during the past three years. For the latest, we go to Bangkok to speak with Premchaiporn.