July 3, 2009

To All Members:

Message from the FCCJ Board

The Board of Directors of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan [FCCJ] is appalled to learn that the entire board of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) has been accused of committing lese majeste, a crime that carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

The FCCJ is also gravely concerned that in the recent past the Thai authorities have used the country's lese majeste laws to restrict freedom of expression and have otherwise abused it for its own political ends.

The Board of the FCCJ is dismayed by reports that the 13-member Board of the FCCT will be investigated by police after a complaint was filed by a freelance translator.

To our knowledge, this is first time in recent history that journalists -- and certainly foreign correspondents -- have been collectively targeted for simply selling DVDs of a speech made at the FCCT by a former government minister.

We urge the Thai authorities to respect freedom of speech and provide guarantees that journalists will be permitted to carry out their duties free from intimidation.

The FCCT is the sole official representative of foreign correspondents based in Thailand, and we view any unwarranted legal action against the Board or any other member as not only attack on the rights of journalists in that country, but on correspondents throughout the world.

President and Board of Directors
The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan