[WSIS CS-Plenary] [Amarc-info2] AMARC supports petition for Supinya Klangnarong

[Carmen Carvajal]

*AMARC supports petition for Supinya Klangnarong*

The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) supports a 
global petition calling Shin Corp, Thailand, to drop criminal 
proceedings against Ms. Supinya Klangnarong, Secretary General of the 
Campaign for Popular Media Reform (CPMR) in Thailand. /(Please see news 
release below for more information)./

AMARC invites you to sign the petition for Ms. Klangnarong by going to 
_http://www.wacc.org.uk/supinya_.

*******

*Worldwide Petition Urges Shin Corp to Drop Charges Against Supinya 
Klangnarong in Thailand*

Distinguished figures and free speech organisations add their names to 
the campaign.

July 27, 2005 (WACC). Hundreds of signatories including distinguished 
public figures are putting their names to a petition calling on Shin 
Corp, Thailand, to drop criminal proceedings against Supinya 
Klangnarong. Supinya had noted in an interview she gave to the Thai Post 
that Shin Corporation profits had risen sharply since the Thai Prime 
Minister came to power. Shin Corporation was founded by the Prime 
Minister and is now owned by his family.

Noam Chomsky, Ariel Dorfman, Robert McChesney, Bernard Cassen and 
Armando Mattelart were among the first signatories to the petition.

Those who have recently joined the petition include: Antonio Pasquali; 
Steve Buckley, President of the World Association for Community Radios; 
Jeremy Dear, General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists in 
the UK; Tim Gopsill, Editor of The Journalist, UK; Ursula Owen, Editor 
in Chief of Index on Censorship; Luitgard Hammerer of Article 19; Joan 
Jara, Human Rights activist; Robert Shaw, Human Rights Officer of the 
International Federation of Journalists as well as academic leaders and 
practitioners of journalism and communication worldwide.

Supinya's trial for asking an honest question is being seen as a 
landmark freedom of speech case. If found guilty she may face a prison 
sentence and a civil suit for US$10 million. The hearings started on 19 
July.

The World Association for Christian Communication, WACC, set up a weblog 
covering the case, including the petition, at 
_<http://www.wacc.org.uk/supinya>http://www.wacc.org.uk/supinya_ which 
went live the day before the trial.

The petition will be presented to Shin Corp to show the level of 
opposition there is to the charges being pressed against Supinya and 
against free speech.

Supinya studied Media Policy in the UK on a scholarship under the WACC 
Communication Leadership Programme.

For further information visit: 
_<http://www.wacc.org.uk/supinya>http://www.wacc.org.uk/supinya_

or contact:

********************************************************

Contact: Myriam Horngren, Advocacy and Network Coordinator,

_mh at wacc.org.uk <mailto:mh at wacc.org.uk>_

Office +44 (0) 207 582 9139 Mobile +44 7962 06 26 98

Hi-res photographs are available from Sean Hawkey, Communication Officer,

_sh at wacc.org.uk <mailto:sh at wacc.org.uk>_ Office 44 (0) 207 582 9139

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