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Thailand bans documentary about Thai-Cambodia boundary dispute Thailand bans documentary about Thai-Cambodia boundary dispute
(5 months later)
A Thai documentary that examines recent political protests and a border spat with Cambodia has been banned by the country's government as "a threat to national security and international relations".A Thai documentary that examines recent political protests and a border spat with Cambodia has been banned by the country's government as "a threat to national security and international relations".
Nontawat Numbenchapol's documentary Boundary zeroes in on a soldier caught up in the 2011 "red shirt" protests that paralysed Bangkok and led to the deaths of almost 100 people, before following him to his hometown on the Thai-Cambodian border. The two countries have long been engaged in a row over the 1,000-year-old Hindu Preah Vihear temple in the Dângrêk mountains region, occasionally entering into armed conflict. A series of skirmishes in April 2011 left 18 people dead and thousands of villagers displaced. The area is currently the subject of a UN International Court of Justice probe to decide its future.Nontawat Numbenchapol's documentary Boundary zeroes in on a soldier caught up in the 2011 "red shirt" protests that paralysed Bangkok and led to the deaths of almost 100 people, before following him to his hometown on the Thai-Cambodian border. The two countries have long been engaged in a row over the 1,000-year-old Hindu Preah Vihear temple in the Dângrêk mountains region, occasionally entering into armed conflict. A series of skirmishes in April 2011 left 18 people dead and thousands of villagers displaced. The area is currently the subject of a UN International Court of Justice probe to decide its future.
Numbenchapol's decision to flag up two of the most contentious flashpoints in his country's recent history has not gone down well with the Thai authorities, however. On 23 April, the Thai ministry of culture announced a countrywide ban on the film, which premiered at the Berlin film festival in February. Boundary's director said he was disappointed and surprised by the move.Numbenchapol's decision to flag up two of the most contentious flashpoints in his country's recent history has not gone down well with the Thai authorities, however. On 23 April, the Thai ministry of culture announced a countrywide ban on the film, which premiered at the Berlin film festival in February. Boundary's director said he was disappointed and surprised by the move.
"I really didn't expect this film to be banned," Numbenchapol told the Hollywood Reporter. "Everyone I've spoken with who's seen it says the film shows the point of view of every side, and that the film is neutral. My intention was to let the film be a space for the people in the troubled territories to voice their views and feelings to the outside world – which they haven't had a chance to express in other Thai media.""I really didn't expect this film to be banned," Numbenchapol told the Hollywood Reporter. "Everyone I've spoken with who's seen it says the film shows the point of view of every side, and that the film is neutral. My intention was to let the film be a space for the people in the troubled territories to voice their views and feelings to the outside world – which they haven't had a chance to express in other Thai media."
A statement from the ministry of culture reads: "The film presents some information on incidents that are still being deliberated by the Thai court and that have not yet been officially concluded."A statement from the ministry of culture reads: "The film presents some information on incidents that are still being deliberated by the Thai court and that have not yet been officially concluded."
Few films are banned outright in Thailand, which has no official age-based cinema ratings system. Recent exceptions to that rule have included Palme d'Or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Syndromes and a Century in 2007, Tanwarin Sukkhapisit's transexual-themed Insects in the Backyard in 2010 and Ing K's politically charged Macbeth adaptation Shakespeare Must Die last year. Numbenchapol said he hoped to appeal to the National Film Board over the decision to ban Boundary, but was not holding out much hope of a positive outcome.Few films are banned outright in Thailand, which has no official age-based cinema ratings system. Recent exceptions to that rule have included Palme d'Or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Syndromes and a Century in 2007, Tanwarin Sukkhapisit's transexual-themed Insects in the Backyard in 2010 and Ing K's politically charged Macbeth adaptation Shakespeare Must Die last year. Numbenchapol said he hoped to appeal to the National Film Board over the decision to ban Boundary, but was not holding out much hope of a positive outcome.
"Before Boundary, Insects in the Backyard and Shakespeare Must Die were banned, and they both went to the administrative court, but they still haven't gotten an answer," he said. "I think it's useless to appeal, but what else can I do?""Before Boundary, Insects in the Backyard and Shakespeare Must Die were banned, and they both went to the administrative court, but they still haven't gotten an answer," he said. "I think it's useless to appeal, but what else can I do?"
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