Mcot Told Not To Broadcast Thaksin's Remarks

[Sturbuc]

He said a recent interview by Thaksin on a radio programme had a "direct impact" on the country and could worsen the current political situation as the ex-leader made negative comments against Thailand, the Privy Council and the justice system.

Well, as we all know who controls the media, has the power. It's not a very democratic style to provide any censorship. But this doesn't happen only in Thailand. (Hello Silvio )

But: maybe the PM should ask himself why the political influence of Mr. Thaksin is still so strong.

[coalminer]

maybe thaksin can move to england or the u.s. and

have his own reality tv show

They should put this guy on an island on water and bread, cause of him and his red shirts, Thailand tourisme is way down and we loose a lot of income

I remeber to have read a few days ago in a newspaper that "this guy" had baught an Island already and was planning to build a VP hotel on that island ......

[Gianni77]

Seditious talks should not be on public airwaves.

This order ONLY applies to one person Thaksin.

I don't think my company taxes should pay for Thaksin to inflame the public.

Let him buy time on non-pubilc airwaves if he wants, as he does.

He is a runaway convict from justice,

and is trying to bring down the government.

This is not about free speech, but aiding and abetting sedition.

Like I said before, who knows if this dude Jom was paid by Thaksin to air that... otherwise you've to be a complete retard to risk your job like that. Mr. T buying time a people... hmmm... way too often

Anyway, I totally agree with you, convicted criminal on the run should not be given any air time, come back to the country. face your problems and have all the air time you want, but not when on the run...

[Chopper]

Good luck on shutting this guy up!

Ha-ha spot on.

Maybe a lobotomy would do the trick.

[slim]

maybe thaksin can move to england or the u.s. and

have his own reality tv show

They should put this guy on an island on water and bread, cause of him and his red shirts, Thailand tourisme is way down and we loose a lot of income

Hello hello - Earth calling

Edited September 8, 2009 by slim

[drunken]

Good luck on shutting this guy up!

Wonder what.... may be its too late to shut that guy up... what do you say...?

[Plus]

maybe the PM should ask himself why the political influence of Mr. Thaksin is still so strong.

He knows it very well.

One part of the reason is that he has a free access to his faithful to present his side of the story and badmouth all his opponents. Now they look like a brainwashed mob speaking a totally different language and believing in totally absurd explanation of events.

Now Thaksin tried the same on state run media and any government should have stopped it.

The problem was not Thaksin's interview per se, it's the way he was allowed to present himself in a favorable light and without any challenges.

If, for some reason, he'd agreed to be interviewed by Yoon the way Abhisit was, perhaps Dems would be praising Mcot, not threatening it.

Bottom line - it was their sloppy job as journalists that brought the govt's rath, their own abuse of the trust people put in media professionals.

[grantbkk]

Amazing Thailand - Burma with Electricity!

[wlcart]

As "the who" once said.... meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

It does not matter the color of their shirts, the ruling class on both sides use propaganda and corrupt methods to maintain power.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH! NOW!

Freedom of speech is the corner stone of democracy, simple as that. Does Thailand want a democracy or not?

Let information flow freely, and citizens can make up their mind for themselves. There really is no better way.

[fxe1200]

What would you expect from a government that was put in power with mob rule? This government, if you can call it a government owes the yellow shirts big time and MUST protect them.

...you are absolutely right. Only the yellow mob made it possible, that the vote buying ruling party finally had to step down. We remember, that the ECs ruling to do so was done in May 2008. It took five months of protest and peaceful demonstrations for the yellow mob to learn, that those, who broke the constitutional law, will rather change the constitution and cling to power, than stepping down. The yellow mob finally decided to walk to the airport. And they did a successful job. They forced the lawbreakers out of the government. That is practised democracy. Sure thing, that those, who saved the leftovers of democracy in Thailand, deserve protection.

And just who do you think financed the yellow shirts? democracy is the law of the majority and should be achieved via the ballot box and true democracy is a long way from reality here in Thailand. The real pandemic gripping the country is not swine flu but corruption.

You are right, the government should be elected by the ballot box and not by vote buying. And who cares where the money for the yellows comes from? All political groups ore parties are being funded by the industry or individuals, or whomever. Even in "advanced" democracies like Germany, parties are super rich.

See it this way in Thailand: The pigs are changing, the pig trough will be the same. Politics here and everwhere is all about for how long and how effective one can sink his/her trunk into the sugar jar of the nation. In Thailand it is commonplace, with all these tiny variations of corruption, within the EU it is done more or less undercover, by tax evading (Malta is the new Heaven), and graft. Examples on demand.

But this is another topic, isn't it?

[fred007]

Thaksin , Thaksin ,Thaksin . Yellow Shirts Red Shirts When is this country going to move on?I think its about time............Dont You

[jamora]

Whether Thaksin is the good guy or the bad guy is a matter of political opinion, but it is sad to see that Thailand is neglecting some of the basic rights of a modern democracy!

People are not allowed to speak, because it is "bad" for the stability, protests are not allowed for the same reason. Pretty much the same excuse that the old Soviet leaders used to explain why jeans and political parties were banned!

Where is Thai politics heading?

[nurgut73]

right so! don't allow him to cause any more trouble from wherever he is sitting counting his billions...

[alant]

maybe thaksin can move to england or the u.s. and

have his own reality tv show

They should put this guy on an island on water and bread, cause of him and his red shirts, Thailand tourisme is way down and we loose a lot of income

was this a joke post? or did the colour on my tv go off when the airports were shut down?

[bf2002]

More shenanigans in the mango republic.

[Just1Voice]

maybe thaksin can move to england or the u.s. and

have his own reality tv show

They should put this guy on an island on water and bread, cause of him and his red shirts, Thailand tourisme is way down and we loose a lot of income

I suppose you think that the takeover of the airport by PAD didn't have anything to do with tourism dropping like a rock from the top of Mt. Everest, did it?

[Samuian]

Bit of a silly reaction imho. Sure point out that the interviewer is a Thaksin sympathiser and Thaksin is his ex-boss and obviosuly the whiole thing is a set up. Even question whether Jom is some Jakrapob wannabe (who also launched an ailing career with a sycophantic interview of Thaksin). However, to ban the thing is not only counterproductive but also has shall we say a few free speech implications.

The man knows at whom his stories are aimed at -

he knows that certain people will detect the "setup",

But it's not aimed at them - it's aimed at those who maybe still

believe that h e genuinely has "helped" them - it's dangerous stuff

he seek's to push for an ever deeper divide - look at the

"Al Jazeera" Interview... from 13.April...

Do you condone the attacks that we have seen by your supporters on places like the education ministry or even on the prime minister's car?

The local press cannot provide the true story and the army spokesman is telling lies to the people.

Thaksin has accused the Thai government of covering up deaths from the protests

The military came out with M-16s and they shot at the heart of the people.

Many people died and they just take the dead bodies away.

This is only your accusation ... made by some of your supporters that can't be confirmed at the moment.

and his previous speech... when

the demonstration went out of control and violent - this guy is mad and dangerous!

I think it would be better to cut all his "phone-ins" and sabotage all his actions to

undermine the state of national security!

dam_n "free speech" did he care about "press freedom", about "human rights", about the UN...?

Did he give a dam_n about anything that did not come out of his "think tank"?

And "free speech" does this apply for blunt lies and highly deceptive content as well - who will

contain the damage once it's done - anyone who will criticize his remarks will be "a liar, twisting the truth, biased against his

good winl"

time may prove me wrong...about this compulsive liar...

Edited September 8, 2009 by Samuian

[reallyok]

I am surprised they didn't block it for contempt of court. Thaksin apparently criticised the Supreme Court for convicting him for the trivial matter of giving spousal consent to his wife's land purchase from a state agency in a rigged auction at an artificial low price when he was prime minister. Under Thai law criticising a court decision is for better or worse a criminal offence.

Arkady .......you sure are confused if thats what you really believe.

However its not too late to go back and study the whole situation from the start, make your own mind up and not let the propaganda people do it for you.......................Good luck !

[reallyok]

maybe thaksin can move to england or the u.s. and

have his own reality tv show

They should put this guy on an island on water and bread, cause of him and his red shirts, Thailand tourisme is way down and we loose a lot of income

Yeh ! its obvious that you think that we need the Yellow shirts out at 'Swampy' again to really sort things out , once and for ever !!

[hammered]

Bit of a silly reaction imho. Sure point out that the interviewer is a Thaksin sympathiser and Thaksin is his ex-boss and obviosuly the whiole thing is a set up. Even question whether Jom is some Jakrapob wannabe (who also launched an ailing career with a sycophantic interview of Thaksin). However, to ban the thing is not only counterproductive but also has shall we say a few free speech implications.

The man knows at whom his stories are aimed at -

he knows that certain people will detect the "setup",

But it's not aimed at them - it's aimed at those who maybe still

believe that h e genuinely has "helped" them - it's dangerous stuff

he seek's to push for an ever deeper divide - look at the

"Al Jazeera" Interview... from 13.April...

Do you condone the attacks that we have seen by your supporters on places like the education ministry or even on the prime minister's car?

The local press cannot provide the true story and the army spokesman is telling lies to the people.

Thaksin has accused the Thai government of covering up deaths from the protests

The military came out with M-16s and they shot at the heart of the people.

Many people died and they just take the dead bodies away.

This is only your accusation ... made by some of your supporters that can't be confirmed at the moment.

and his previous speech... when

the demonstration went out of control and violent - this guy is mad and dangerous!

I think it would be better to cut all his "phone-ins" and sabotage all his actions to

undermine the state of national security!

dam_n "free speech" did he care about "press freedom", about "human rights", about the UN...?

Did he give a dam_n about anything that did not come out of his "think tank"?

And "free speech" does this apply for blunt lies and highly deceptive content as well - who will

contain the damage once it's done - anyone who will criticize his remarks will be "a liar, twisting the truth, biased against his

good winl"

time may prove me wrong...about this compulsive liar...

Around Songkhran time Thaksin did come across as either having lost it or drunk (there were stories that his handlers tried to get him on air when had had enough to be easily lucid and critical but before he was paralytic around that time). AlJazeera among several called him on his words well and just used what he had said against him. He was truly amazing.

[jboras]

Oh Yes! Democracy Thai style!

True Greek practice of Ostracisation!

(But at least the Greeks put it to a vote (white vs black pebbles (Ostracos) before banishing someone!!!)

[JGV]

He is a convicted felon and as such should be in prison not airing his views on the rights and wrongs of the current govt

The issue of free speech is a red herring as people in prison have lost their freedom

[barry]

maybe thaksin can move to england or the u.s. and

have his own reality tv show

They should put this guy on an island on water and bread, cause of him and his red shirts, Thailand tourisme is way down and we loose a lot of income

What a load of old <deleted>, tourism has gone down dramatically in the last couple of years even without the global recession and it has nothing to do with Thaksin {and I'm not a supporter} this government has done sod all to curb the scams going on, even going as far as admitting they are incapable of clearing the crooks out of the airport. Instead of moving corrupt officials into other equally lucrative posts they should be sacked and prosecuted and the injustices that are going on should be righted but they wont because this society is founded on corruption and graft.

Instead of "Gilligan's Island", the show could be called Thaksi's Island...I LIKE IT

[wrecker]

It is completely uninteresting. This kind of things happen in police states. Thailand is a police state with the democratic party a shame for its name. They are still so afraid for Thaksin that they are already busy instructing the courts to disband Peu Thai. But nobody in its right mind would even like to argue that it is wasted time. A government that holds 66% of their voters in disregard do not deserve to be taken seriously. Luckily for Tahksin he has brains whereas Suthep only has a big mouth.

[SHYTALK]

Jom and his bosses at Mcot were probably just testing the water.

They, of all people, know how to abuse their positions and cry about media freedom at the same time. These guys never ran a politically unbiased story in their lives.

Perhaps they thought if Democrats are not ordering to run any propaganda they can start working for the old boss.

Satit had to put them in place.

All this complaining about media freedom is for internet junkies consumption only.

Nice you have been able to say that.In the media.

[SHYTALK]

maybe thaksin can move to england or the u.s. and

have his own reality tv show

They should put this guy on an island on water and bread, cause of him and his red shirts, Thailand tourisme is way down and we loose a lot of income

If you live by the sword, you die by the sword.

[TAWP]

How dares Thaiksin to question the integrity of a "Justice system" which is able to catch and punish within a few hours everything a Red Shirt does, but is unable to bring the PAD to Justice for their crimes against the nation.

Hyperbolic troll.

[Arkady]

maybe the PM should ask himself why the political influence of Mr. Thaksin is still so strong.

He knows it very well.

One part of the reason is that he has a free access to his faithful to present his side of the story and badmouth all his opponents. Now they look like a brainwashed mob speaking a totally different language and believing in totally absurd explanation of events.

Now Thaksin tried the same on state run media and any government should have stopped it.

The problem was not Thaksin's interview per se, it's the way he was allowed to present himself in a favorable light and without any challenges.

If, for some reason, he'd agreed to be interviewed by Yoon the way Abhisit was, perhaps Dems would be praising Mcot, not threatening it.

Bottom line - it was their sloppy job as journalists that brought the govt's rath, their own abuse of the trust people put in media professionals.

I think you are right. If you accept the Thai justice system (it is admitedly crap but it's the only one they have), then Thaksin should clearly have no right to appear on state media to bad mouth judicial decisions. If you don't accept the justice system, even though this is an untenable stance for state media, then state media should at least try to present a balanced view and Thaksin should be interviewed in the way BBC and CNN interviewed him in April, if a Thai equivalent reporter exists, who lets him make his points but also challenges him, not by a sycophant who has been paid to put out a PR puff for him. Anyway, look at it another way. If Thaksin were in the saddle and had managed to put Abhisit, Prem, Newin or Sondhi in the position of a fugitive on the run, do you imagine he would allow them to put PR puffs out on state media? Of course not, any state media employee caught even thinking about it would never work in media of any type again.

On another point, I noticed that Thaksin denied rumours that he had cancer. I heard this rumour before the interview from some one with hi-so connections who said a well known Thai doctor had been flown out to Dubai to examine Thaksin and diagnosed T3 stage prostate cancer. Whether it's true or not it has obviously done the rounds pretty well for Thaksin to feel obliged to refute it.

[SHYTALK]

Surely the state media is funded by the tax payer, and remain non political and balanced.

And the government should keep its nose out of its impartiality.

This government has no mandate from the people to practice censorship.

[jayboy]

How dares Thaiksin to question the integrity of a "Justice system" which is able to catch and punish within a few hours everything a Red Shirt does, but is unable to bring the PAD to Justice for their crimes against the nation.

Hyperbolic troll.

Really? I wouldn't have put it quite this way but the fundamental point being made is sound.