CNS to get tough with broadcast media

[Braveheart]

Extracted from the Bangkok Post

 

(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.