Australian journalist and blogger Murray Hunter was arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport in late September 2023. Stopped by Thai immigration officials, he was informed that he was a wanted man and was taken into custody due to allegations stemming from his blog posts. Hunter, 68, faced charges of defamation for articles he published regarding the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). His arrest highlights serious concerns about press freedom and transnational repression in Southeast Asia.
Hunter, who has resided in Thailand for many years, described the shock of being detained. “Can you imagine if you’re at Sydney airport or Melbourne airport and you’re about to fly out on a holiday and the federal police stop you and say, ‘Sorry, there’s an arrest warrant out for you’?” he recounted. After spending a night in a Bangkok jail, he was eventually bailed the next day, marking the beginning of a tumultuous 15-week ordeal involving court appearances and escalating anxiety.
The charges against Hunter were unusual; he was facing prosecution in Thailand for allegedly offending a foreign government agency, a situation that has drawn the attention of a powerful Thai senate committee. According to Pornchai Witayalerdpan, a member of the Senate foreign affairs committee, Hunter’s case reflects a troubling trend of ASEAN nations acting as enforcers for each other’s political censorship. “It’s very detrimental to Thailand’s image as a country that would like to protect human rights and freedom of speech,” he stated.
The four blog posts that led to Hunter’s arrest, published on Substack in April 2024, criticized the MCMC for blocking websites critical of the Malaysian government. The articles also alleged that the chairperson of the MCMC had conflicts of interest. Rights organizations have long accused the Malaysian government of employing legal tactics to silence dissent. The Centre for Independent Journalism noted that authorities use legal actions as a deterrent against individuals who speak out.
Before his arrest, Hunter had been found liable for defamation by a Malaysian court, proceedings he claims he was unaware of. This lack of support from a media organization left him feeling vulnerable. “I don’t have a media organisation behind me,” he remarked. “I’m an individual, who’s retired.”
As his case progressed, Hunter faced the reality of potentially serving eight years in a Thai prison. After a lengthy mediation session in a Bangkok court, he agreed to post an apology to the MCMC and remove several articles from his blog. “All those articles coming down, there’s humiliation there,” he expressed. “At 68, I just want to get away from their clutches.”
The legal basis for Hunter’s arrest lies within a loophole in Thailand’s criminal defamation laws. A representative of the MCMC filed a complaint claiming they accessed Hunter’s articles while in Thailand, allowing local authorities to press charges under section 328 of the Thai Criminal Code. This interpretation of jurisdiction raises serious concerns about the implications for writers and journalists who might be targeted for their critical views of foreign governments.
Political leaders like Pornchai Witayalerdpan are calling for legal reforms to prevent similar cases in the future. He warned that Hunter’s experience could set a dangerous precedent, suggesting that any writer, regardless of their background, could face legal repercussions in Thailand for discussing foreign entities critically.
While neither the Thai nor Malaysian governments have publicly commented on Hunter’s case, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade declined to provide details, citing privacy concerns. As of now, Hunter remains in Thailand with plans to reactivate his blog, which has been blocked in Malaysia for several years.
When asked whether he would continue writing, Hunter confidently asserted, “Of course.” His story serves as a potent reminder of the challenges faced by journalists and bloggers operating in an increasingly restrictive environment.
