More Government Censorship

Drawn from an Editorial in the Bangkok Post - Published: 15/05/2009 at 12:00 AM the following was broadcast on RFR's Thai News One Today.

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The National Telecommunications Commission requested Wednesday for permission to govern the content of every community radio and satellite TV station.

The commission proposes to place a whole new set of public broadcasters under its control, including monitoring and censoring the broadcasts themselves.

It is disturbing that the government has apparently leapt to support the commission's request, without any public input or parliamentary discussion.

The country has the word of the PM's Office Minister Sathit that the NTC would only take action if broadcasters used "politically incendiary" statements.

Well NTC, if you are bothering to monitor our little station we have this to say.

We have talked to other community stations and they all agree. This is another case of government interference and they are trying to stifle the thoughts and actions of the community stations by putting in more vague rules that they can use to force community broadcasters, that don't agree with them, to toe the government line or be shut down. It is totally unacceptable in this day and age. It is a breach of the constitution and out right violation of our and our listeners rights.

Radio stations have to have the right to report what is happening, Now, in the community without interference or approval from the Government before we air newscasts or weather alerts.