Covid-19: Coronavirus crisis provides excuses for curbs on free speech

A March 24, 2020, photo released by the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights shows Danai Ussama standing inside a police station in Bangkok, while he is processed after being arrested for posting a message on social media criticising the lack of government measures in screening passengers when arriving at the airport. As governments across the world enact emergency measures to keep people at home and stave off the pandemic, some are unhappy about having their missteps publicised. Others are taking advantage of the crisis to silence critics and tighten control. — Thai Lawyers for Human Rights/AP

BANGKOK: Health concerns were on artist Danai Ussama’s mind when he returned to Thailand last month from a trip to Spain. He noticed that he and his fellow passengers did not go through medical checks after arriving at Bangkok’s airport, and thought it worth noting on his Facebook page.

The airport authorities denied it, lodged a complaint with police, and he was arrested at his gallery in Phuket for violating the Computer Crime Act by allegedly posting false information – an offense punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 baht (RM13,319).