NYT printer in Thailand refuses to run front-page story on flagging Thai economy, replacing it with blank spaces
The International New York Times said its printer in Thailand removed a piece on the moribund state of the kingdom’s economy on Tuesday, forcing the edition to carry blank spaces including on the cover.
It is the second time in the last 10 weeks that the paper has said its local printer declined to run an article in a country where media freedoms have been increasingly curtailed since last year's military takeover.
Tuesday’s newspaper was supposed to carry a report headlined “Thai economy and spirits are sagging”, a wide-ranging piece exploring the junta's inability to kickstart the flagging economy and the disappointment felt among many ordinary Thais.
It also touched briefly on succession concerns surrounding 87-year-old King Bhumibol, the world's longest serving monarch who is revered but ailing.
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
Instead chunks of the front page and page six were blank and carried the sentence: “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.”
A spokeswoman for the paper gave the same reply when asked for comment.