Thai Government Puts Radio Ban On Monks

[george]

Thai government puts radio ban on monks

The government of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has reportedly banned the country's Buddhist monks from mentioning the administration on state radio.

Radio Thailand officials say the decision came after a monk used a radio sermon to indirectly criticise the ruling party's plan to build a casino.

Thai rights campaigners say the move - which involves the establishment of a committee to monitor all Buddhist sermons on state-radio - goes too far.

The Campaign for Popular Democracy says it's a nonsense to gag monks and even military dictators refrain from meddling in religious affairs.

--Agencies 2004-07-18

[ASIC]

Is nothing sacred to that #######?

Am I the only one starting to seriously consider leaving Thailand?

ASIC

[Dutchy2]

Thai government puts radio ban on monks

The government of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has reportedly banned the country's Buddhist monks from mentioning the administration on state radio.

Radio Thailand officials say the decision came after a monk used a radio sermon to indirectly criticise the ruling party's plan to build a casino.

Thai rights campaigners say the move - which involves the establishment of a committee to monitor all Buddhist sermons on state-radio - goes too far.

The Campaign for Popular Democracy says it's a nonsense to gag monks and even military dictators refrain from meddling in religious affairs.

--Agencies 2004-07-18

Thaksin meddling in religion should give the Thais a clear indication of the direction the countries is heading in. I mentioned this before, Buddhism doesn't play a big role in Thailand anymore just like christianity and catholicism in Europe. Thaksin's comment to the monks cannot be misunderstood: Shut up!

Dutchy

[john b good]

Is nothing sacred to that #######?

Am I the only one starting to seriously consider leaving Thailand?

ASIC

You're not.

But where would you suggest going to?

[ASIC]

I don't know. No attractive alternative really. Maybe move to somewhere in Africa? Anyone lived there before?

As much as I complain about Thailand, I still love the place. Just hard not to get involved with local affairs, as it feels so much like home. I have never met a friendlier people than the Thais, and they really deserve so much better.

But I guess I have to accept it. Thailand is a 3rd world country with a banana-republic leadership, and I just have to keep my mouth shut?

Anyway, I am waiting to see what happens. If the political climate goes down the drain, with complete censureship and government self-praise reaching China / Singapore / Malaysian levels, I'll have to vote with my feel. I have lived in all of the three countries, and decided some years ago that my mental health was more important than money, and moved to Thailand. Wouldn't want to move again.

Not that I believe anyone in Toxins government will give a rats ass.

ASIC

[andyinkat]

Never lived in Africa but it's not a continent I'd associate with political enlightenment.

I couldn't return to live in the West now, but I would say that if I did I'd never fume about political corruption (in a domestic context) again. Compared to the West the political situation in Thailand really sucks. Compared to most of Asia (and I suspect but cannot verify, much of Africa and South America) it's quite normal.

Having spent two years in Nepal where the extent of government corruption is the chief reason a civil war is being waged, and a few months in Bihar, N. India where the elected politicians are quite openly convicted gangsters and murderers and where my life was threatened when I refused to play the game, my attitude now is to have no expectations of politicians whatsoever other than the hope that they leave me alone to get on with the social and humanitarian work that they should be doing.

In the West, centuries of democracy have taught politicians, however vile they may be personally, that their profesion has some connection with serving their electorate. India, Nepal, Thailand and many other societies have no such history - rather their political system has always been one of patronage. Under western pressure many countries in Asia have adopted the veneer of democracy (only since 1990 in Nepal altho' it's collapsed again, a few fits and starts between military dictatorships in Thailand) but it is not realistic to expect the sense of social accountability to be learnt overnight, hence the politicians behave as they have always done - plundering their underlings to build up their personal wealth.

Not much comfort I know, but that's my analysis. I guess I'm just saying that if you did relocate somewhere outside the Developed World you might wonder why you bothered.

[BKK_banger]

As much as I complain about Thailand, I still love the place. Just hard not to get involved with local affairs, as it feels so much like home.

But I guess I have to accept it. Thailand is a 3rd world country with a banana-republic leadership, and I just have to keep my mouth shut?

ASIC

Asic,

There you have the reason not to stay. You will never be accepted here because of the colour of your skin and the nation of your birth.

If you were Chinese you would stand a good chance of being accepted like Toxin.

If you want to stay then you are a third class non-citizen, only a visitor, who can be tossed out if he offends anyone.

Does it matter?

I would suggest to a thinking man who can see injustice around him that it does.

[Pi Sua]

....And soon the politic police.... then the red guards !

[ovenman]

Not that I believe anyone in Toxins government will give a rats ass.

I don't think the vast majority of Thais give a rat's ass when Mr. Big implements policies such as gagging the monks from speaking their minds, so long as Mr. Big keeps the goodies flowing their way such as the new proposed 200K/250K/300K baht village fund, the 30 baht healthcare program, etc.

[george]

THAILAND: Visanu denies monk banned from religious programme

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Krue-ngarm yesterday denied the Public Relations Department (PRD) had barred a monk from hosting a Sunday morning religious radio programme.

Mr Visanu, who oversees the PRD, said that the absence of regular host Phra Pawana Viriyakul of Wat Luang Phor Sot Thammakayaram of Ratchaburi was not politically motivated, insisting it had nothing to do with the monk's recent show in which he criticised the government's CEO governor project.

According to Mr Visanu, the PRD had received complaints that the monk was invited to host the show too frequently, so the PRD decided to introduce other monks.

With the 72nd anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's birthday approaching, the PRD had decided to devote the recent religious programmes in her honour, said Mr Visanu.

He said Phra Pawana Viriyakul's programme was put on hold because its contents were not relevant to the occasion. The monk was doing a series on dhammapibarn.

He also noted that the PRD never examined or censored scripts of the programme before broadcast. To avoid future criticism, Mr Visanu said he had asked the PRD to announce in advance who would be hosting the next show.

--The Post 2004-07-20

[ovenman]

According to Mr Visanu, the PRD had received complaints that the monk was invited to host the show too frequently, so the PRD decided to introduce other monks.

Other monks... with a (coincidentally and conveniently) friendlier point-of-view.

[taxidriver]

So now he doesn't like monks speaking freely as much as he doesn't like us farangs.Never trust a business man/politician.Just when you thought TRT couldn't get worse.This country needs a real Thai leader,not that rich,Chinese/Thai attitude.

[francois]

POST DISAPEARED !!

WASN'T IT POLITICALY CORRECT ENOUGH ?

or admin erase what they don't like?

I would like to have explanation about this ... thanks

francois

[megashox]

A bit off-topic, but did anyone see yesterday's Bangkok Post with the front page photo of two monks arriving for a meeting in a luxury car.

Thailand's own MiB - Monks in Benz!