In a country where media censorship is common, the Bangkok Post portrays itself as having been comparatively free.
There are notable instances where this is clearly untrue! The Bangkok Post has often been accused of self-censorship in order to avoid controversy or conflict with powerful individuals. An example of this is an unwillingness to criticise the Thai monarchy, which would constitute an illegal act and would, doubtlessly, be hugely unpopular.
Another example of self censorship, until recent years, was an unwillingness to point out influential and corrupt individuals. This has now changed.
Bangkok Post also failed, during the Vietnam War, to report upon forays from U.S. Air Force bases in Thailand over North Vietnam and Cambodia. At the time none of these missions received coverage in the local press.
