Prof Ubonrat Siriyuvasak from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, will deliver a talk titled “Democracy denied? Communication rights in Thailand post-Thaksin” in KL on 30 April 2011.
For the past few months, the University of Nottingham’s Centre for the Study of Communications and Culture has been organising an ongoing seminar series on culture, media and identity, titled Voices: Public Intellectuals and Public Discourse in South and Southeast Asia. Bringing eminent speakers from the region to Kuala Lumpur, Voices is an attempt at discussing issues – and indeed problems – of cultural diversity, conflict resolution, the role of the media and the state, and the changing parameters of public discourse and participation. In this regard, you are cordially invited to attend our next public lecture.
The upcoming presentation, the fourth in the series, will be held on Saturday April 30, 2011 from 10am – 1pm. at the University of Nottingham’s KL Teaching Centre, Level 2, Jalan Conlay, Kuala Lumpur. Prof Ubonrat Siriyuvasak from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, will deliver a talk titled “Democracy denied? Communication rights in Thailand post-Thaksin.” Dr Siriyuvasak is Emeritus Professor in media studies at the Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University. She was UNESCO Chair in Freedom of Expression, a joint project between UNESCO and Chulalongkorn University, in 2003-2004. Her research and social interests are in communication rights, media reform and popular culture. She is the author of The Political Economy of Thai Radio and Television System and its Impact on the Rights and Freedom of Expression (in Thai).
The presentation will discuss the power struggle to attain ‘democracy’ by the old and new political power bloc and the emerging role of civic groups in this public discourse. The media and citizens’ communication rights are key constituents of the on-going contestation to re-define democracy – Thai style. Media censorship, particularly Internet censorship, and moral regulation by the state, and not least, self censorship by media practitioners, is prevalent after the military coup that ousted Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006. Some of the critical implications on the shrinking public sphere in Thailand will be reviewed.
For registration and further enquiries, please contact Agnes Selvaragi ([email protected]).
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Democracy in Thailand is a Managed Democracy. It means that any victor in the election must be in line with the military other they will be ousted through a coup. And in Thailand coups are very frequent and coup leaders were never indicted for this illegal action even though there is a provision in the 1997 Constitution which state that any military leaders that stage a coup can be charged for grab of power..
Name me one country in Asia that practices true democracy….yes there in one, “White Asia Australia”!