Media Freedom In Thailand Is At Stake

[hjvdhoef]

It all depends on what color shirt you have if it is yellow free press your own TV station. If it is red your TV station is blocked.

Or you could say if the TV Station is broadcasting lies, advocating violence and inciting people to break the law it is being blocked.

But I will be honest, I have never seen Red TV but if it is anything like what is being said on the red stage and other red internet outlets than I do believe shutting them down is only the first step. They need to be prosecuted as would happen in most any other country that claims freedom of the press.

In fact, in most other countries stations like this would not even be allowed to get a license. The problem we have here is the timing in which the PM took action against theses stations. They should have been held accountable before they helped incite the current lawless mob holding the country hostage.

Keep in mind that there are MANY restrictions to the press in EVERY country and censorship is very standard in most of Asia with things those of us in the west are not used to. However, there are also things shown in the UK that would not be shown on broadcast TV in the US and vice versa.

The FCC in the use is the governing body over what can be said on the airwaves as well as who can own a radio or TV station. The FCC is a gov't body. We would not have this kind of problem in the US because these channels would never make in on the air to begin with. Fox is an example I'm sure people would use to say you can get away with hateful and bias reporting but they are very careful not to incite violence and condemn it. However, the do spend most of their time actually doing commentary and not news but many people think it is actually news. That is where the confusion comes from.

I never read so much crap in my life.What do you think,what this government and TV stations and this paper sad is the truth?Ask any Human right group what they think about this government. The next disaster comes when they start killing there own people.How do you call that in Western democracies.....a civil war!!!!!

[321niti123]

I want to take note of closing down the red tv last month, anyways thailand wasnt that good at free press anyways there were always restrictions and the only reason Thailand was the model is because all the other countries were falling to dictatorship and communism which was harsher on the press than thailand was.

[millwall_fan]

The coverage of the Bangkok Post and Nation has been disgracefully pro government since teh coup and before that they were anti Thaksin. It's laughable to think that Englsih speaking readers can't see through their partizan coverage.

[animatic]

I think - on this note that Thai Journalists need to do a better job of "Digging for the truth", rather than taking what all these windbags say at face value. How many times to they have to report the crap that Jatuporn utters, with no fact checking or challenges, etc. Their idea of journalism is to record the quotes and the repeat the quotes. Thats not journalism, that is parroting.

That of course enters the domain of puyai lost face... and Thaskin and his flash cards,

or Samak and his bluster is just the most obvious issues reporters can butt up against.

[difos57]

It all depends on what color shirt you have if it is yellow free press your own TV station. If it is red your TV station is blocked.

Or you could say if the TV Station is broadcasting lies, advocating violence and inciting people to break the law it is being blocked.

But I will be honest, I have never seen Red TV but if it is anything like what is being said on the red stage and other red internet outlets than I do believe shutting them down is only the first step. They need to be prosecuted as would happen in most any other country that claims freedom of the press.

In fact, in most other countries stations like this would not even be allowed to get a license. The problem we have here is the timing in which the PM took action against theses stations. They should have been held accountable before they helped incite the current lawless mob holding the country hostage.

Keep in mind that there are MANY restrictions to the press in EVERY country and censorship is very standard in most of Asia with things those of us in the west are not used to. However, there are also things shown in the UK that would not be shown on broadcast TV in the US and vice versa.

The FCC in the use is the governing body over what can be said on the airwaves as well as who can own a radio or TV station. The FCC is a gov't body. We would not have this kind of problem in the US because these channels would never make in on the air to begin with. Fox is an example I'm sure people would use to say you can get away with hateful and bias reporting but they are very careful not to incite violence and condemn it. However, the do spend most of their time actually doing commentary and not news but many people think it is actually news. That is where the confusion comes from.

I never read so much crap in my life.What do you think,what this government and TV stations and this paper sad is the truth?Ask any Human right group what they think about this government. The next disaster comes when they start killing there own people.How do you call that in Western democracies.....a civil war!!!!!

The red mob has killed its own people.

[yesdavy]

When will The Nation accept the concept of a pluralistic society? It would be a good start to allow independent thought. But then one hears of heavy censorship and some editorials are extremely biased.

I wish there would be a debate like in the British elections.

Q: When did your party win the last election? A: 1992

Q: When a PM needs to step down over a cooking show, how about a $ 8 million illegal party contribution?

Q: Since we all want the law to be enforced, how are indictments for the occupation of airports coming along?

Open debate where each side is allowed to speak would be a great start. In the UK, people hold different and often opposed opinions. that's okay. we all need to learn how to handle this.

These are very ordinary questions any journalist worth his or her salt would ask, regardless of the political parties, because they are based on facts. Kudos, onlycw, for posting them here, but it is not only The Nation that would dodge such confrontational, face-losing, questions. I don't know of any media here that would dare ask these questions. Therein lies the problem. Therein the problem lies.

[difos57]

Even the worse news media in Thailand can look "professional" if it compares itself to the American news outlet, FOX NEWS. Not only are they bias, they have a particular agenda to bash the democratic party. ..and very seldom do they cover world events. ( According to Media Research Center, their viewers have the lowest amount of education. )

Don't you mean Faux News?

Why dont you blog in USA. you show ignorance again because Faux is pronounce faw or for so go show ignorant in your country. x is not pronounce and only you and 2 like you write this.

joke of the day that this government not interfere with media. who can ever take this serious bye bye this joke thread and hope yellow shirts enjoy that nobody talk with them on this

Calm down. Did you forget to take your medication. You will see clearer once you do.

[landofthefree]

more propaganda from the nation rag. its truly one of the worst papers i have ever come across on the planet.

http://en.rsf.org/surveillance-thailand,36673.html This is a link to reporters without borders report about Thailand. They say Thailand is under surveillance for restricting internet access. Also some interesting information about Abhisit, read it and he might not seem quite such a nice boy as everyone seems to think.

[khunjamespittman]

How is it possible for any reputable new organization to say that the government has not interfered with the media. What does The Nation say shutting down a TV station, radio statiosn and anti-government bloggers is. That is the ultimate of interference.

This statement clearly demonstrates that they have no idea what the job of professional journalists is (to record the facts).

I venture to say that The Nation would have had a much different editorial if it was their media operations that were shut down by the government.

After this editorial it should be abundantly clear to everyone that The Nation is a propaganda organization and not a news organizaqtion.

[gl9999]

In any conflict, propaganda is always used by both sides. It's up to the intelligent(not 'poor' Northern people) to decide what's the truth and what's propaganda.

The shutdown of these Red Shirt 'media' was for the fact that they INCITED VIOLENCE. People like to talk about free speech and all that but there's a limit to what you should be able to say and getting other people to INCITE VIOLENCE and OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT merits a shutdown don't you think?

[khunjamespittman]

In any conflict, propaganda is always used by both sides. It's up to the intelligent(not 'poor' Northern people) to decide what's the truth and what's propaganda.

The shutdown of these Red Shirt 'media' was for the fact that they INCITED VIOLENCE. People like to talk about free speech and all that but there's a limit to what you should be able to say and getting other people to INCITE VIOLENCE and OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT merits a shutdown don't you think?

I am extremely happy and exicted that we have your intelligence here to help us understand what YOU think.

It is somewhat confusing why a person with your exceptional intelligence has to resort to such contorted rationale to justify your beliefs or is it fantacies.

[khunjamespittman]

It all depends on what color shirt you have if it is yellow free press your own TV station. If it is red your TV station is blocked.

Or you could say if the TV Station is broadcasting lies, advocating violence and inciting people to break the law it is being blocked.

But I will be honest, I have never seen Red TV but if it is anything like what is being said on the red stage and other red internet outlets than I do believe shutting them down is only the first step. They need to be prosecuted as would happen in most any other country that claims freedom of the press.

In fact, in most other countries stations like this would not even be allowed to get a license. The problem we have here is the timing in which the PM took action against theses stations. They should have been held accountable before they helped incite the current lawless mob holding the country hostage.

Keep in mind that there are MANY restrictions to the press in EVERY country and censorship is very standard in most of Asia with things those of us in the west are not used to. However, there are also things shown in the UK that would not be shown on broadcast TV in the US and vice versa.

The FCC in the use is the governing body over what can be said on the airwaves as well as who can own a radio or TV station. The FCC is a gov't body. We would not have this kind of problem in the US because these channels would never make in on the air to begin with. Fox is an example I'm sure people would use to say you can get away with hateful and bias reporting but they are very careful not to incite violence and condemn it. However, the do spend most of their time actually doing commentary and not news but many people think it is actually news. That is where the confusion comes from.

I never read so much crap in my life.What do you think,what this government and TV stations and this paper sad is the truth?Ask any Human right group what they think about this government. The next disaster comes when they start killing there own people.How do you call that in Western democracies.....a civil war!!!!!

I have never seen a Tuk-Tuk but they are the most clean burning machine in Thailand.

[enginerevision]

" Media Freedom at stake "

There never was real media freedom....

[Casuarina]

In any conflict, propaganda is always used by both sides. It's up to the intelligent(not 'poor' Northern people) to decide what's the truth and what's propaganda.

The shutdown of these Red Shirt 'media' was for the fact that they INCITED VIOLENCE. People like to talk about free speech and all that but there's a limit to what you should be able to say and getting other people to INCITE VIOLENCE and OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT merits a shutdown don't you think?

Don't you think our current media only reports rather one sided news. Or should I say always sided the current government until the integrity of the news are heavily discounted.

Media are meant to report the fact. The best media is the one that reports the truth in a fair manner. It should tell both side of the stories.

Every Thai is born equal. We all have only one vote in election. They could be poor or in different social status. But, they should have the freedom to choose what they believe in. Never insult others intelligence. They make a different choice from you does not mean they are less superior.

To be fair, I think it is wrong to takeover the shopping area but it also wrong to takeover the airport. But, this is just my thought. I just would like to have the freedom to express my thought too.

What goes around comes around..........Do you believe in Karma?

[enginerevision]

more propaganda from the nation rag. its truly one of the worst papers i have ever come across on the planet.

http://en.rsf.org/surveillance-thailand,36673.html This is a link to reporters without borders report about Thailand. They say Thailand is under surveillance for restricting internet access. Also some interesting information about Abhisit, read it and he might not seem quite such a nice boy as everyone seems to think.

Interesting link

[hextac]

The red mob has killed its own people.

Do you have any evidence or proof of this claim, please share.

[clockworkorange]

"First of all, the government has maintained a correct policy in not interfering with the media. "

This, coming from the Pravda?

The Abhisit government has done more to censor the media than any other. Since Abhisit took over, his detractors have been habitually labelled as antimonarchists and otherwise enemies of the state. Radio, TV and websites that oppose the government have been shot down.

Another joke article.

[SomTumTiger]

"First of all, the government has maintained a correct policy in not interfering with the media. "

This, coming from the Pravda?

The Abhisit government has done more to censor the media than any other. Since Abhisit took over, his detractors have been habitually labelled as antimonarchists and otherwise enemies of the state. Radio, TV and websites that oppose the government have been shot down.

Another joke article.

When Red media advocates the use of violence to overthrow the lawful government - it should be banned.

[rfukata]

Even the worse news media in Thailand can look "professional" if it compares itself to the American news outlet, FOX NEWS. Not only are they bias, they have a particular agenda to bash the democratic party. ..and very seldom do they cover world events. ( According to Media Research Center, their viewers have the lowest amount of education. )

I would have thought you were referring to CNN?

[enginerevision]

"First of all, the government has maintained a correct policy in not interfering with the media. "

This, coming from the Pravda?

The Abhisit government has done more to censor the media than any other. Since Abhisit took over, his detractors have been habitually labelled as antimonarchists and otherwise enemies of the state. Radio, TV and websites that oppose the government have been shot down.

Another joke article.

When Red media advocates the use of violence to overthrow the lawful government - it should be banned.

A coup is lawfull and seizing airports/gov complexes to force your way in cabinet?

[Tod Daniels]

"First of all, the government has maintained a correct policy in not interfering with the media. "

This, coming from the Pravda?

The Abhisit government has done more to censor the media than any other. Since Abhisit took over, his detractors have been habitually labelled as antimonarchists and otherwise enemies of the state. Radio, TV and websites that oppose the government have been shot down.

When Red media advocates the use of violence to overthrow the lawful government - it should be banned.

A coup is lawfull and seizing airports/gov complexes to force your way in cabinet?

NEWSFLASH for the 'thick';

The coup was done by the military to kick out a P/M in EXPIRED 'caretaker status' who dissolved the Lower House to stall a political decision by the constitutional court. Post coup there have been TWO 'red' P/M's (who unfortunately ran amuck of somthing called the law) and who did NOTHING while they were in power to further media freedom either.

When Thaksin was P/M he routinely litigated the press into silence by bringing frivilous lawsuits to the tune of MILLIONS of baht against his detractors, no matter how many facts they had to back up their claims against him as having validity.

I think ANY radio or television station which openly preaches violence as a SOLUTION to anything should be banned/blocked and/or shut down. End of story. .

Dissenting opinions are one thing, but outright calls for violence is a 'whore of a different color'. (Sorry I mean a 'horse of a different color', got my whores and horeses mixed up ...)

FWIW: I seriously doubt "the good ship thailand" has ever enjoyed the luxury of a 'free press', no matter who has been at the helm.

[Tejas]

I think virtually all posters are missing an important point.

You are assuming there is media freedom.

That is a false assumption.

It is false in Thailand.......it is false worldwide.

The global mainstream mass media is dominated by a few corporations.

There job is to maintain the status quo (preventing real change).

They do that by teaching us what we need to know to exploit ourselves.........dividing us.......and diverting out attention away from all of the critical issues.

Wake up! This is old news.