Govt raids 13 community radio stations

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Govt raids 13 community radio stations

Broadcasters accused of airing Jatuporn speech

Published: 27/04/2011 at 06:54 AM
Newspaper section: News

Government officials yesterday raided 13 community radio stations in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces which have been accused of broadcasting a speech allegedly containing comments offensive to the monarchy.

A joint task force made up of officers from the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and the Crime Suppression Division as well as local police carried court warrants to the community radio stations and seized their equipment.

Police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Prawuth Thawornsiri said Isoc had ordered police to take legal action against community radio stations which had broadcast a controversial April 10 speech made by Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan, since he is facing lese majeste charges as a result.

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Writer: Wassayos Ngamkham and Pongpat Wongyala

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davidb98
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Discussion 16 : 27/04/2011 at 04:46 PM16
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pro-democracy radio and rallies are being systematically closed down

will Thailand still claim elections are free, fair and democratic

but, like operations on the border... no foreign (independent) observers allowed!
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tommylee
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Discussion 15 : 27/04/2011 at 12:15 PM15
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I am not unsympathetic to the frustration many foreigners have with freedom of speech here in Thailand, but would like to point out that there is no freedom of speech in a global context, either. If one googles for information like “Who owns the media”, “Who rules America”, “Who owns the Internet”, one finds out who the monopolists are, and how their manipulate public opinion. Just a quick example on current events: If one tries publishing anything on Libya or the world banking system that is against mainstream media owners’ opinion, one simply gets blocked out. So, I think, freedom of speech in Thailand is not as bad as many foreigners believe it to be in an international comparison.
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subcoman
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Discussion 14 : 27/04/2011 at 11:54 AM14
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Police didn't closed 96.35 at Lam Luk Ka klong 4 as reported is this article, this radio is still running this morning. At 11:00 am this morning, numbers of red shirts were already in front of the station in case authorities come back.

Not far from there, in Wongsakorn market another radio has been closed. At 5:00 PM, number of red shirts and people from the market came to protest against this.
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abbub
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Discussion 13 : 27/04/2011 at 11:24 AM13
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IVY I am still convinced there are two IVYs because your POV's go back and forth. Anyway, why do you think closing yet another opposition voice is a good thing? Is dialogue and reconciliation not dependent in part on mutual acceptance?

REN #4: "(police) should just do their job and arrest anyone who opposes them". Would that include the people they stop for phony traffic violations; the people who pay bribes every day to sell their wares; the clubs that pay money under the table....etceteras etceteras?

In fact, what you suggest is exactly what the police do.

AN #10: Not at all true. In the case of the PAD hooligans they have yet to be arrested and jailed, after years of thumbing their noses at everyone else.
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j-1-v
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Discussion 12 : 27/04/2011 at 08:13 AM12
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Ivyking - #3

Ok, and then shut down all the YELLOW radio/tv stations, and then the ones owned and controlled by the military as well so we don't have to listen to their distorted propaganda either. Sounds fair to me.
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ricefield
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Discussion 11 : 27/04/2011 at 08:04 AM11
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It's good to know that as the military oppresses community radio the Bangkok Post censors comments talking about community radio. Says a lot about the Thai media in general.
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anoldman
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Discussion 10 : 27/04/2011 at 08:03 AM10
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johninbkk, #2. Arrest always precedes tria.
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siamitude
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Discussion 9 : 27/04/2011 at 07:59 AM9
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Thailand is now going through its darkest time in histoty. The regime have sadly evolved into absolute brutality and intolerance.
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banphai
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Discussion 8 : 27/04/2011 at 07:28 AM8
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The BBC News reports that, according to a police commander, the radio stations were raided by the police because they were operating without licences:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13201665
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abbub
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Discussion 7 : 27/04/2011 at 07:08 AM7
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The DJ was arrested for what?

The situation in Thailand seems to b declining rapidly. Every military show of strength is a signal to the population: we do as we please; stay away!
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