It's all just a big misunderstanding, says under-fire interior minister over instructions to block broadcasts
By Post reporters
Activists in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen yesterday lodged a police complaint against Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung for ordering the blocking of ASTV's broadcasts on the anti-government rallies led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). They have also filed a complaint against Jate Thanawat, the Khon Kaen governor, accusing him of cutting off the ASTV signals.
Tul Prasertsilp, of a local network against corruption, accused the minister and the governor of abusing their authority.
He alleged that both had blocked public access to information, a basic right of the people, and violated Articles 45 and 47 of the constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech.
Mr Chalerm on Friday instructed provincial governors and officials via a teleconference to file charges against the satellite-based ASTV and cable television operators which relay broadcasts of the ongoing PAD rallies at Makkhawan Rangsan bridge.
Mr Chalerm has claimed that the ASTV's coverage of the PAD rallies was in violation of Article 85 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits propagation or publication of material inciting people into wrongdoing.
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| People's Alliance for Democracy demonstrators put up umbrellas, some carrying political satire, messages and caricatures, as it began to rain on Ratchadamnoen avenue yesterday. The demonstration entered its 21st day yesterday. — SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL |
The ASTV broadcasts are seen as breaching the code, he said.
''The network demands that the minister and the governor stop their action immediately and allow cable TV operators to continue their broadcasts,'' Mr Tul said.
He will also petition the National Counter Corruption Commission to take action against Mr Chalerm and the governor for overstepping their authority.
The minister's verbal order did not comply with the law and the constitution, Mr Tul said.
However, Mr Chalerm denied giving the order and said the PAD had misunderstood his statement.
He said he neither has the authority to shut down ASTV or any cable TV stations.
He said all he did was tell the cable TV operators to use their judgment and stop relaying broadcasts of the rallies if political activists say bad things about others or incite people into breaking the law.
Mr Chalerm said the provincial governors were only instructed to enforce the law strictly.
Pol Maj-Gen Surapol Thuanthong, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Police Office, said ASTV is free to continue its broadcasts.
He said the real intention of the interior minister was to warn provincial governors not to let illegal cable TV operators remain in business.
The Thai Cable TV Association yesterday issued a statement confirming their stance of not to stop feeding information to the public under the constitution.
If the government wants cable TV operators to block ASTV signals, it must issue a written order with proper authorisation from relevant officials, the association said.
In Tak's Mae Sot district, the privately-run Star Cable TV Mae Sot Co defied Mr Chalerm's order on Friday by continuing broadcasts of the rallies.
Reports say this was probably because the cable TV operator feared that stopping the broadcasts would anger its 10,000 local subscribers keenly following the demonstrations.
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