Forum on the role of digital platforms in supporting democratic rights in Thailand

UNESCO, in partnership with the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) and Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Communication Arts, hosted an online forum on how internet-based and online information can affect the ability of Thai citizens to exercise their democratic rights.

Speaking on access to information online in regard to Thailand, Ms Pawana Rurkrai, Director of Policy and Analysis, Office of the Official Information Commission, commented, 'Thailand is a member of the Asian Access to Information Alliance (AAIA). Country members of the AAIA respect their citizen’s fundamental right to express themselves or their opinions, including the principle of freedom of access to information. The Alliance believes that information plays a crucial role in determining public agenda and in enabling citizens to make informed decisions in a participatory development process.'

Another representative from duty bearer side, Mr Sanon Wangsrangboon, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, shared how open access to information can enable good governance and transparency: 'The five key drivers for the administration of Bangkok city are concluded in the OPEN Bangkok concept… [access to] information is a fundamental right of the citizens, as they are the one who provide the government with every single cent of the money used. In turn, we have to let [that public] scrutinize and make the system transparent and fair.'

As for access to information from the perspective of rights-holders, Mr Woraphop Viriyaroj, Member of Parliament from the Move Forward Party, commented during the panel discussion on this topic, 'Apart from being a measure against corruptions, information disclosure will foster more civic participation in political matters. You cannot take ownership of this country if you cannot obtain information. It is a fundamental requirement of participatory democratic process.'

Providing a media perspective, Ms Thapanee Eadsrichai, journalist of 3MitiNews and founder of The Reporters noted the signal importance of access to information to journalism: 'Media in Thailand hardly utilize the accessibility of public information despite its importance, as investigative reports have been [to only limited extent] carried out by professional media. It turns out that investigations of government corruption are mostly done by anti-corruption organizations instead of journalists. Hence journalists need to acquire research skills for investigative reporting, as they are important agents to access information for public scrutiny before presenting them to the audience.'

Recalling that ‘Thailand holds the distinction of being the first ASEAN member country to enact a legal framework that addresses the right of access to information, through the Official Information Act of 1997,’ Joe Hironaka, Advisor for Communication and Information at the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, added, 'This International Day for Universal Access to Information reminds us, as a starting point, that access to information is a human right, and it is the human right that is essential to achieving all the others.'