CNS Imposes Broadcast Media Ban on Thaksin News

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Apparently, for whatever reasons, the powers-that-be don't mind newspaper reporting about Thaksin, so far, but now consider television and radio news reports about him to be a no-no.

 

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST:

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CNS to Get Tough with Broadcast Media

 

(Bangkokpost.com)

 

The military has ordered the broadcast media to stop airing news about former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his cronies.

 

Representatives of all television and radio stations were today invited to meet with members of the Council of National Security to be notified of the CNS's ''request for cooperation'' to refrain from airing news about the deposed prime minister and his cronies.

 

General Vinai Patthiyakul, secretary-general of the CNS, said that the CNS had observed '' with great tolerance'' the broadcast media's coverage of news about Mr. Thaksin and his cronies for the past three months. He said some of the media had expanded the coverage in a manner that tended to cause public misunderstanding of the CNS.

 

He also warned that the CNS might have to resort to tougher measure against the media which refuses to heed the CNS's request.

 

All but one television station and all radio stations in Thailand are state-owned. Some are concessioned out to private sector to operate the stations.

 

This is the first attempt at overt media censorship since the immediate aftermath of the coup.

 

One of the earliest promises made by the junta when the group seized power was that they would quickly lift the censorship of the media imposed in the hours after the coup.

 

Local media now have also been told they cannot report comments made by Mr. Thaksin's lawyer - who said on Tuesday he had received telephoned death threats.

 

The Thai media has not fashioned a formal response. It is not clear what will happen if the media defy the military council. It is also entirely unclear why the generals felt they had to impose the ban today.

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And this, from THE NATION:

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JUNTA GETS TOUGH

Thaksin's Passport Revoked

 

Pojaman Also Loses Diplomatic Passport; CNS Asks Broadcast Media Not to Report about Him

 

Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra has had his travelling privileges curtailed, following calls for tougher action against him.

 

The junta also moved to stop him using the media to orchestrate political trouble.

 

The Foreign Ministry revoked the diplomatic passports of Thaksin and his wife Pojaman after an inquiry concluded he had engaged in political activities while in exile, a senior ministry official said yesterday.

 

The ministry has also instructed all its embassies not to facilitate Thaksin's travels and visits, said deputy spokesman Kiatthikhun Chartprasert.

 

Council for National Security (CNS) secretary-general Winai Phattiyakul, and assistants Saprang Kallayanamit and Anupong Paochinda, told some 50 editors of the broadcasting media in a meeting yesterday not to report Thaksin's activities.

 

CNS chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin yesterday lectured some 300 senior police officers, including police chief Kovit Wattana, about the CNS' new moves and stringent policies, especially in dealing with anticipated anti-coup movements. He instructed the police to be more active.

 

The move to revoke the deposed premier's diplomatic passport came after criticism of the junta that it was too lenient in dealing with Thaksin, allowing him to travel around the region to meet his supporters.

 

"Taking into consideration the appropriateness and security concern, the diplomatic passports of Thaksin and [his] wife have been revoked since December 31, 2006," Kiatthikhun said.

 

Thaksin, however, is permitted to to carry an ordinary Thai passport that will enable him to travel abroad but without the privileges of the diplomatic one with the red cover.

 

On Tuesday, the ministry instructed the Thai consulate in Hong Kong and the Thai Embassy in London to notify the Shinawatras of the decision.

 

With the exception of Asean members, a number of countries require a pre-approved visa for Thai passport holders.

 

The issue of revoking Thaksin's passport cropped up almost immediately after he was ousted by the September 19 coup.

 

Thaksin has been visiting a number of neighbouring countries, including China, Japan and Indonesia, as well as Hong Kong, where he was believed to have met some of his close aides.

 

Suspicions that he was plotting a political comeback rapidly surfaced and kicked off a debate among coup leaders, diplomats and senior officials.

 

The Foreign Ministry has consistently downplayed the demand on the grounds that all former prime ministers and foreign ministers were permitted to hold on to their diplomatic passports for life.

 

The junta accused Thaksin of orchestrating what they called an "undercurrent" to create trouble for the people in the power.

 

The issue became public when Deputy Foreign Minister Sawanit Kongsiri informed the National Legislative Assembly in a closed session that the ministry had already terminated the diplomatic passports of Thaksin and his wife.

 

On November 16, the ministry revoked the diplomatic passports of Panthongtae and Pinthongtha, Thaksin's first two children. Youngest daughter Paethongtarn diplomatic passport expired earlier and was not extended.

 

Thaksin yesterday let it be known he would not only stop all political activity but would also offer the junta his assistance to facilitate trade with foreign businesses for the Kingdom while he was abroad.

 

Sopaporn Kurz

 

The Nation

 

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BANGKOK, Jan 11 (TNA)

 

In the wake of what is being seen as his government's attempts to control Thailand's local media, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Thursday insisted that the freedom of the expression of public opinion and discourse in the kingdom remains intact, even as he might suggest that the media themselves should exercise their right with balanced judgement.

 

Gen. Surayud commented in response to critics suggesting that the military Council for National Security (CNS) and the interim government it installed are trying control the media when the CNS on Wednesday asked some 50 broadcast media executives to refrain from airing news related to the movements of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his aides.

 

"It's entirely up to the media how they view the CNS move on this subject. As for the government, we're wide open for freedom of expressions," said Gen. Surayud, "quite completely."

 

He suggested that the media themselves should make their own judgement on how to present news in a such a balanced way, and consider what they should or should not present in their coverage.

 

Defending the CNS move, the prime minister said the military council had not specified any particular broadcasters airing news in a biased or exaggerating manner lately, and that the CNS' s action was simply a reflection of their concern over the media coverage in general, and so they deemed it necessary to come up with some guidelines for the media to cooperate.

 

The prime minister also downplayed speculation that the CNS move will also curb the freedom of expression of other sectors than the media working with checks and balances against the interim government and the CNS.

 

But when asked if it would adversely affect the government's image, Gen. Surayud said that nothing happens that does not impact on the government, and that the government must accept any consequences that follow.

 

(TNA)-E009