Limits on Thai media freedom criticised by New York Times

The New York Times decried limits on media freedom in Thailand after its local printer refused to publish articles about the country for a third time.

The printer removed a column from yesterday’s edition of the International New York Times

about Thailand’s Crown Property Bureau, which manages the financial affairs of the royal family.

The column said the bureau was not publicly accountable and its assets may total as much as $53bn.

Instead of the column, the newspaper ran a blank space, with a notice in the middle saying “The article in this space was removed by our printer in Thailand. The International New York Times and its editorial staff had no role in its removal”.

On Tuesday, the Thailand edition of the newspaper had a similar blank spot on its front page instead of a story about the country’s sagging economy and spirit a year and a half after a military takeover. The story briefly mentioned the monarchy.