Thai authorities to meet banned journalists

The government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been criticized for trying to muzzle the media

BANGKOK, Thailand (Reuters) -- Thai authorities have summoned two journalists, whose visas have been revoked following accusations they endangered national security, to a meeting at the immigration department.

A spokeswoman for Dow Jones' Hong Kong-based Far Eastern Economic Review magazine told Reuters that its Bangkok bureau chief, Shawn Crispin, 33, an American citizen, and correspondent Rodney Tasker, 56, a British national, were to meet officials Wednesday over the issue.

"Yes there is a meeting," the spokeswoman said, but declined to give further details.

The move by Thailand's immigration police to revoke the two men's visas has sparked an outcry over press freedom in one of Southeast Asia's established democracies.

U.S. Ambassador Darryl Johnson raised his concerns Monday with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told a news briefing Tuesday.

But he said he had nothing to report from their meeting.

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Commenting earlier on the case, Boucher said, "We are concerned about the prospect that Thailand may bar certain journalists from working in or entering the country for publishing reports that were critical of the government."

He added, "We encourage Thailand to uphold its reputation as a strong supporter of freedom of the press consistent with its constitution and its past practices."

The government of Prime Minister Thaksin, heavily criticized since coming to power a year ago for efforts to muzzle media criticism, has denied involvement in the decision to revoke the visas and is under increasing pressure to step in to avert damage to Thailand's image.

Police have said the move to deport the journalists follows the Review's publication of articles on the Thai royal family, as well as on businesses run by Thaksin's family.

They have declined to say exactly what was objected to in the articles, but the action stems from the January 10 issue, which was banned here and pulled from shelves.

Thailand has tough laws which restrict what can be written or said about the royal family.

Apology

The country also has little-used laws allowing restrictions on the publication of material seen as threatening Thai morals or national security.

National Police Chief Sant Sarutanond said on Tuesday if the magazine issued an apology Thai authorities would consider mitigating the charges.

"We do not take an insensitive hard-line. If they show regret, apologize, and issue a correction, the gravity of the offense will ease and this thing will end on a positive note," he said.

But the Review in a statement said it rejected the charges and had appealed the visa revocations.

"Nothing has happened today," the spokeswoman told Reuters on Tuesday, adding Thai officials had yet to approach the magazine to point out any factual inaccuracies in its stories.