Thailand launches media crackdown

[PeteC]

AFP
Thailand's military-backed government launched a nationwide radio crackdown on Friday, after closing three broadcasters which aired comments from ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

"The public relations department is checking content on every community radio station to see whether it violates our national security," Phachern Khamphoe, deputy director general of the department, told AFP.

The announcement of security checks on 3,000 community stations came a day after authorities shut down three Bangkok outlets which broadcast telephone calls from Thaksin, who now lives in London.

The former prime minister has remained in self-imposed exile since the military overthrew his twice-elected government in September last year.

While he has previously spoken to international media following the coup, Thaksin's foray this week marked his first contact with local media since the military takeover.

Thai authorities on Friday filed complaints against Confidante Radio and Taxi Driver Community Radio, saying the two anti-junta stations were set up "illegally."

If found guilty, their operators could face up to five years in jail, a fine of 500,000 baht (14,000 dollars) or both, said Borworn Taecha-In, director of the Office of National Broadcasting Commission.

Authorities did not file a complaint against Saturday Voice Against Dictatorship, since it is available only on the Internet, but the government blocked its server.

In the wake of the media crackdown, representatives from 13 community radio stations on Friday sent a joint letter to the government, urging it to respect freedom of expression.

But Thirapat Sereerangsan, a minister attached to the prime minister's office, reiterated its warning that the government will take action if stations air comments from Thaksin.

Authorities will shut down "radio stations that broadcast content deems threat to our national security or could cause divisions among the public," Thirapat, who is in charge of the public relations department, told reporters.

"I would like to warn all operators not to be manipulated by politicians," he added.

During the radio shows, Thaksin called for early elections and voiced concern for the rural poor.

[lomuamart]

Yeah,
Saw that on the news early this morning but yet again could't copy/paste it.
Dreadful. I think I saw it all over the front paage of the BKK Post today.
I couldn't be bothered to read it. I'd seen the general flow on the internet at about 6am.

[buksida]

1984

[nevets]

This is absolutely disgusting and the THAI people sit back and do nothing . They would be on the streets in the thousands if they got up one day and found no cigarettes and alcohol to be had , because the junta had taken it away .BUT TAKE AWAY THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS AND THEY DO NOTHING.

[lomuamart]

Well, I don't know how reliable this is, but:
My wife says she saw on national tv this morning that Thaksin is returning to Thailand on 29th May to answer the allegations that have been made against him. Apparantly, this was said by the television news crew, not Thaksin himself or his lawyer.
If he does so, it'll be interesting times ahead.
I'm booking my one-way ticket to Timbuktoo tomorrow. Lol.

[The understudy]

Ohhh my what i see in Thailand is pretty sickening in Deed!
I think the Thais would like to do something but they feel Powerless and intimmedated by the Junta Govt. which could use the Millitary to crush any demonstrations.
This is more so important why Thais outside of Thailand like me have to do something.to make their host country aware of what kind of Infornation Crakdown is going on,
I Think Thais in the USA & UK must take the lead in this struggle for freedom of information and lifitng of Censorship than other countries who have Thai immigratnts such as Germany but aren't organised enough to start such a rally would follow siut!
Your's The understudy

[The understudy]

Yo I have something from the BKK Post Online Edition aboot. Thais Internet Censorship and Clampdown on Freedom of Speech! it read as fallows!

Cyber clampdown ripped by foreign watchdog

(dpa)
New York-based Human Rights Watch says the military-backed government has undermined Thailand's free political debate with its unprecedented crackdown on Internet critics.

Since the Sept 19 military coup that ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Thai authorities have launched a censorship campaign of the Internet that has blocked half a dozen websites deemed critical of the current government, said the human rights group in a statement out of New York.

"A major complaint about Thaksin was his muzzling of the media and willingness to limit free speech," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The military-backed government promised a quick return to democracy, but it's now attacking freedom of expression and political pluralism in ways that Thaksin never dared."

Censorship of the Internet is now being carried out by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (MICT) and the Royal Thai Police, in collaboration with the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) and the Telecommunication Authority (TOT), which provide Thailand's international internet gateways.

Since the coup, the government has blocked at least five websites on charges of threatening national security, disrupting public order, or being obscene, including the September 19 Network (www.19sep.net and www.19sep.org), the pro-Thaksin PTV television (www.ptvthai.com), the online broadcast of Saturday Voice (www.saturdaylive.org and saturdayvoice.no-ip.info) and the online broadcast of FM 87.75 Taxi Community Radio (www.shinawatradio.com).

While these websites can still be accessed from abroad, local internet surfers in Thailand will get an "Access Denied" message, and the MICT's logo saying that access to such websites has been blocked due to "inappropriate content."

"The ministry has requested Google Thailand (www.google.co.th) and Google.com to block access to its cached web pages in Thailand by which blocked pages can be accessed, as well as to block by keyword search," added HRW.

The group did not mention Thailand's recent blockage of Google's YouTube.com website after it aired clips that ridiculed Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the country's revered monarch who turns 80 this year.

The site was blocked under the country's lese majeste law that makes any criticism of the royal family a crime.

It also did not mention the more recent blocking of the entire Blogspot.com site by some Internet providers acting on the MICT's "request".

Thailand, under the current government, has also passed a law to criminalise the generation, possession, storage, dissemination of and access to prohibited information on the Internet and a Bill on Computer-Related Offenses that empowers the MICT minister to intercept and seize computer data, and seek court warrants to block the dissemination of information on the Internet if such information is considered as a threat to national security.

The two laws, which have yet to be passed, include stiff penalties such as a maximum of five-years imprisonment and fines up to 100,000 baht ($2,700).

"Freedom of expression, including offering opinions on the Internet, is an essential basis of any functioning democracy," said Adams. "Blocking critical websites resembles the behaviour of China and Vietnam. Is this the company that Thailand's leaders want to keep?"
Do you agree I do completly!

[gooze]

Should be careful what I say, next thing they will be censoring forums such as this.

[buksida]

Should be careful what I say, next thing they will be censoring forums such as this.

Its quite possible which is why we do have to be careful on here.

[Kraka's Dad]

Should be careful what I say, next thing they will be censoring forums such as this.

Part of the Mods job that they do very well so this site stays open.

[The understudy]

[quote="Kraka's Dad"][quote="gooze"]Should be careful what I say, next thing they will be censoring forums such as this.[/quote]
Part of the Mods job that they do very well so this site stays open.[/quote]

I Hafta Completeöy agree the Statement of Kraka's DAd the Mods do a Fine Job right there!
Your's The understudy!!!!