Thailand Archives - Page 10 of 16

Thai authorities close 26 radio stations

Reports from Thailand state that 26 community radio stations have recently been closed down by the government using emergency decrees. Thai authorities claim that the stations incited people to join the Red Shirt protests earlier this year and were guilty of distorting information. The government had initiated a media blackout during the protests. Allegedly, 35 people linked to the stations are being threatened with lawsuits for the offences. Staff have been reminded not to air any political views at some community stations to avoid government censorship. Reports state that 500 officials were mobilised in closing down one station in Chiang Mai.

Libel: Thai travails

Tesco has dropped its libel case against Thai columnist Kamol Kamoltrakul (pictured). But the libel laws in Thailand are still hostile to journalists, as Sinfah Tunsarawuth explained in Index on Censorship’s “Big Chill” issue
(more…)

Thailand: Four journalists shot

Four journalists have been shot amidst clashes between Red Shirt protestors and the military in the past week. One Canadian reporter and three Thai press workers were wounded whilst covering the escalating protests in Bangkok. Meanwhile Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol —known as Seh Daeng — a prominent Red Shirt leader was shot in the head on 13 May while being interviewed by a foreign journalist. His death has sparked further unrest.