1. Press Registration Act (2007) BE. 2550 Chavarong Limpattamapanee Secretary General The National Press Council of Thailand

2. History of the Press Law in Thailand The first Printing and Publishing Act was enacted in 1941 during General Pibulsongkram The freedom of the Thai Press was tightened by the Coup order: Decree 42 in 1976 Campaign to abolish Decree 42 was successful in 1990 There were several attempts by the Press organizations to campaign for the abolishment of the Printing and Publishing Act 1941, but failed

3. The Road to the new Press Registration Act 2007 In 2000, the Press organizations proposed to the government led by Democrat Party to abolish the law The Interior Minister said the related agencies such as the Police Department proposed that there should be some other law to identify the publishers if the existing law was abolished Both parties agreed to propose the Press Registration Act to replace the 1941 Printing and Publishing Act The Parliament was dissolved at the end of 2000 before the new law was proposed

4. New Campaign to abolish the Law After the 19 September Coup, the Press organizations led by the National Press Council of Thailand decided to propose the Press Registration draft to the military- installed government to substitute the 1941 Act The government set up a drafting committee to scrutinize the press organizations’ proposed draft The representatives of the press resigned en mass from the committee due to the conservative attitudes of the majorities who represented government agencies, and proposed the law directly to the parliament The government finally accepted the draft proposed by the press organizations.

5. Chronologies of the law 20 January 2007, new law proposed to the government 9 February 2007, government set up a drafting committee 9 May 2007, press representatives resigned from the committee 31 May 2007, the draft passed the first reading of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) 15 June 2007, the second reading process began 29 August 2007, NLA passed the new law 24 November 2007, the King signed the law 18 December 2007, the new law was announced in the Royal Gazette and come into effect on the next day

6. Crucial points of the new law vs. old law There are only 29 articles in the new law Guarantee freedom of expression through printing Government agencies have no rights to consider whether to issue the applicants a license if they submit all the required documents stated by the law Publishers are still subjected to get sued if the newspaper defames others

7. Contents of the Press Registration Act Meaning of Newspaper and other kind of publication under this law The publications that registration not required The registration of other publications The registration of Newspaper Penalties (Administrative & Crime) Transitory Provisions

8. Meaning of Newspaper and other kind of publications under this law Publication that published by the same title Issue or intent to issue continuously regardless of duration or continuing of content Including magazines, journals or other similar publications

9. The publications that registration not required (article 5) Government publication Cards, Wishing Cards, or other kinds of reports that being published for personal, social, trade and political purpose Note book, exercise books or painting books Thesis, Course materials, other kinds of publication in the schools or universities

10. The registration of other publications (article 7-10) Publishers must be 20 years old Resident of Thailand Not a disable person by law Never been in jail except released more than three years or commit to defamation or light jail term Director of Police Department may ban foreign publications that deem lese majeste or harmful to the national security (article 10)

11. The registration of Newspaper (article11-18) Documents required (article 11) If all the required documents are submitted, the certificate of registration must be issued without delay Qualification of Editor (article 14) Newspaper’s owner must be Thai (article 15) If owned by legal entity, at least 70% of share holders and ¾ of board of directors must be Thai (article 16) Transitory Provisions: do not effect existing newspaper