Thai authorities Tuesday backed down on their threat to ban Facebook over posts deemed critical of the royal family after officials said the social networking giant had agreed to expunge such content.
The right of free speech is first among human rights. Free speech is a universal value, and the Thai people should step up and call for comprehensive constitutional reform to ensure media freedom and prevent the government oligarchy from monopolizing the media, the internet and all other channels of speech. The heads of the executive, legislative, judicial and procuratorial branches of government should be elected in alternating years. See the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development for details.