‘Very confidential’ letter instructs government to deal with red radio, websites and cable TV
Tue, 21/07/2009 - 18:30 | by prachatai
A confidential letter has been sent to a Prime Minister’s Office Minister, blacklisting websites, community radio stations and cable TV stations. The source of the letter has not been reported.
On July 20, Thai Rath and Manager reported that the letter was sent to PM’s Office Minister Satit Wongnongtoei and contained a list of websites, and radio and cable TV stations which were considered subversive and inflammatory.
The letter indicates that a cable TV station located in Lad Phrao broadcasts the activities of Thaksin Shinawatra around the clock. Manager points out that this is to emulate royal activities.
According to the letter, a special task force which includes Special Branch police has been formed and assigned to monitor the contents of these outlets. And it has been found that these outlets have been inciting the public against the government and democracy as well as the Monarchy on an almost daily basis. Songs attacking the government and the elite are written and played.
All information has been sent to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban for further action.
Abhisit, Suthep and Satit are reportedly coordinating with the police, the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and the task force to make arrests.
The community radio stations include Udon (87.75MHz), Khon Rak Thai (95.25), Chiang Mai (92.50), Lampang (90.25), Chiang Rai (104), Rim Ping, Lamphun, Ubon, and Khon Rak Taxi (92.75).
The websites are www.redthai.org, thaienews.blogspot.com, www.chupong.info, www.chupong.org, www.thaipeoplevioce.info, www.jaunuea.com, www.Konthai.org, www.Konthaiuk.com, www.redplus.org, www.thaipuworinusa.com, www.vod-station.com, www.vod-station.org, www.sameskybooks.org, www.konrakya.com.
And the cable TV station is MVTV5.
According to Satit Wongnongtoei in a Matichon report on July 21, a subcommittee under the National Telecommunications Commission of Thailand (NTC) has allowed community radio operators from across the country to register, and over 4,000 have done so.
The NTC will later have to announce rules and terms for the issuance of temporary licenses, under which the registered operators have to operate. The operators are bound by two restrictions: not to use transmitters that interfere with mainstream radio frequencies, and not to air content subversive to Thai institutions and the government.
‘It has been checked and found that community radio operators who have not registered are mostly those who serve political interests. The PM has already said that he wants the relevant agencies to take care of them, but the agencies have been waiting for the NTC announcement. Two weeks have passed, but it has not yet been put on the NTC table. I don’t know why. Today, I have called NTC Secretary-General Suranant Wongwitthayakamchorn to push for the announcement soon. Once the announcement takes effect, those who have not registered will be considered illegal, and will have to stop operating,’ Satit said.
Satit said that if the NTC could announce the rules and terms by next week, non-conforming community radio stations would be immediately closed, especially the dozens of stations which served political interests. It is necessary to maintain order, he said, noting that more than 99% of the operators who are good have now registered. So he is not worried about the remaining 1% holdouts who are bad people, as they are just a minority.
Comments
Songs attacking the
Songs attacking the government and the elite are written and played.
Absolutely normal in any democracy. It's democracy itself that they hate and fear.
the military and the elite
the military and the elite want a "one party" state, like North Korea, Burma, etc
they hate the idea of Thai people thinking and discussing
they want Thai people to be ignorant and docile, happy while the "rulers" rape and pillage the country and the people
ho hum... amazing Thailand
Its not often I agree with
Its not often I agree with you David Brown, but on this point I do :)
Actually, I agree with all
Actually, I agree with all except the first sentece of David Brown's comment - I think they are also happy enough with many weak politcal parties.
I watch the TV everyday,
I watch the TV everyday, because it's funny. It seems that the red stop hiding their "personal cult "side of the character.
Anyone Please write here and
Anyone Please write here and say what the FM Radio station in UbonRatch. WEBSITE is Please? Thank you.
A search with keywords
A search with keywords วิทยุเสื้อแดง อุบล yields these results: 99.25,82.0,91.0.
Of the 16 websites mentioned
Of the 16 websites mentioned in this article, just two are up 14 months later. Can you guess which 2?
hale and hearty, still there
hale and hearty, still there
The server at w3.mict.go.th is taking too long to respond.
This website has been blocked by ICT
This website has been blocked by ICT
parked , held by 3rd Party
disappeared
disappeared
disappeared
This website has been blocked by ICT
The server at w3.mict.go.th is taking too long to respond.
disappeared
This website has been blocked by ICT
disappeared
The server at w3.mict.go.th is taking too long to respond.
parked , held by 3rd Party