Transcript Printing Act BE. 2550

Press Registration Act
(2007) BE. 2550
Chavarong Limpattamapanee
Secretary General
The National Press Council of Thailand
History of the Press Law in Thailand
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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
The Road to the new Press
Registration Act 2007
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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
New Campaign to abolish the Law
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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 militaryinstalled 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.
Chronologies of the law
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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
Crucial points of the new law vs. old law
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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
Contents of the Press Registration Act
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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
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
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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
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The registration of other publications
(article 7-10)
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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)
The registration of Newspaper
(article11-18)
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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