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Thailand, the Land of the Free, has a relatively freer Press compared to manyparts of Southeast Asia. With the military junta taking over the constitutional monarchy via a bloddless coup d'etat, I was rather concerned over the state of affairs regarding the freedom of expression under military rule.

I raised it twice in this blog in the last one week, September 19 and September 22. I asked will the Press and Internet be gagged?

I got some updates from my friend Roby Alampay, executive director of South East Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA) who is based in Bangkok:

As you are already aware, the Thai military has taken over the government of Thailand. Many Thais welcome the ouster of Thaksin, to be sure, and most people in Bangkok do seem genuinely thankful for the military action.

But the media environment has been especially vulnerable, unstable, and unpredictale the past week.

We are all OK, but would appreciate your helping us in getting the word out about the need to impress upon the military council the importance of keeping Thailand's media free and independent in these abnormal times.

For updates on the situation, please visit the SEAPA blog at www.seapa.wordpress.com. Thge latest entry reflects the Press community's sentiments that Thai junta's 'reaction' to negative foreign coverage has the International media on edge.

Yesterday, a SEAPA op-ed managed to get printed in The Nation. Here is the URL:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/09/23/opinion/opinion_30014428.php

It says the litmus test for Thailand's ruling military council is to leave the press alone.