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December 01, 2007
Thai film censorship expands, including a PG-25 rating
A harsh new film law in Thailand seems close to enactment, Rotten Tomatoes blogger WiseKwai writes. "The new Film and Video Act is being railroaded through Thailand's National Legislative Assembly by the Ministry of Culture. The make-up of the proposed film-ratings board has already been decided by the NLA sub-committee, Culture Minister Khaisri Sriarun tells Nation News Service. Now the the committee is deciding on the proposed ratings system, which would restrict people as old as 24 from 
seeing certain films, or ban Thai films outright, from being exhibited anywhere in the world. The moves by this military-installed parliament to clamp down on freedoms and stifle expression come ahead of a general election on December 23, and appear deaf to protests by the Free Thai Cinema Movement, which staged a demonstration on Wednesday, outside Parliament House in Bangkok. Poet and writer Jiranan Pitchpreecha led the demonstration, by about 30 artists and filmmakers, including Pen-ek Ratanaruang [Last Life In The Universe], Apichatpong Weerasethakul [Syndromes and a Century], Wisit Sasanatieng [Tears of the Black Tiger], Pimpaka Towira and artist Manit Sriwanichpoom. Jiranan submitted an open letter to Wallop Tangkananurak, a member of the NLA panel considering the act. “The movement believes the new Film Act will impact on the freedom of expression of filmmakers as well as human rights of audiences, especially youths, who will be deprived of the opportunity to develop intellectual and analytical skills,” the letter said. The group has asked that the provisions that empower the state to ban films and order filmmakers to cut scenes judged inappropriate, be stricken from the draft law. The filmmakers say the law is too vague and is open to broad interpretation. Furthermore, there are already laws on the books regarding national security, that could be applied to films... They also requested the NLA to consider increasing the number of nongovernment members on the proposed filmratings board. As the draft act stands now, mainly bureaucrats and governmentappointed representatives would sit on the ratings board. Led by prime minister, the board members would include ministers of Culture and Tourism and Sports ministries, as well as general secretaries from other ministries. After the protest, Culture Minister Khaisri told The Nation's Thai-language news service that the composition of the film-ratings board has already been decided by the NLA committee. The committee is now working on the structure of the ratings system, she said, and the full Film and Video Act is expected to come before the entire NLA during the second week of December. The draft Film and Video Act has been written to replace the existing Film Act of 1930, but rather than being more progressive than this 77-year-old law, the new act is even more restrictive. The ratings system has a PG for general audiences, PG-15, restricting people 14 and under, and a newly proposed PG-25 rating, under which people 24 years and younger would be prohibited. An earlier draft had 17 as the oldest age to restrict moviegoers. If passed, it would be the highest age-restrictive rating in the world. Notoriously controlling Singapore, for example, has a 21-and-over category for films as its most restrictive rating." At Bangkok Post, Kong Rithdee reports, "Filmmakers and artists of the Free Thai Cinema Movement protested outside parliament yesterday, stepping up their call for the removal of the state's power of censorship from the Film and Video Bill.
Poet Jiranan Pitpreecha submitted an open letter and detailed suggestions to Wallop Tangkananurak, a member of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) panel scrutinising the bill, which the assembly is due to begin deliberating this week. ''The movement believes the new Film Act will have an impact on film professionals as well as on audiences, especially young audiences who will be deprived of the opportunity to develop intellectual and analytical skills,'' the letter said. The group proposes the NLA remove clauses that empower the state to ban films and order filmmakers to cut scenes deemed inappropriate. ... Mr Wallop said the lawmakers may see the ban as important in order to prevent inclusion of sensitive content that might undermine the security of the nation and the sacred institution. But the cinema movement maintains there are already existing laws that cover those offences and there is no need to single film out as a medium that could be potentially harmful."
Posted by Ray Pride at December 1, 2007 10:26 PM
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Comments
Frankly, this kind of behavior from that area is nothing new. Bear in mind that until bare weeks ago, the game "Mass Effect" was banned in Singapore. The problem with this as always is who decides "inappropriate", and when you hand over control of such a thing to the state, well, it seldom ends well.
Posted by: Steve ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/mcindie/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 3, 2007 08:15 PM
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