No Political Motivation Behind Closure Of Red-Shirt Radio Stations

[webfact]

No political motivation behind closure of red-shirt stations: Isoc

By THE NATION

The 13 community radio stations run by the red shirts were shut down because they violated the law and not because of any political reasons, authorities said yesterday.

Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) spokesman Maj-General Ditthaporn Sasasamit said the agency had told the police it had received complaints from local residents about the illegal radio stations' frequencies interfering with regular radio broadcasts.

The community radios also broadcast speeches made at the April 10 rally that contained messages deemed to be threatening to national security, offensive to the monarchy as well as inciting unrest, the spokesman said.

"The authorities had to act or we would be accused of dereliction of duty," he said.

The Isoc spokesman said there are more than 800 other radio stations elsewhere in the country that were operating illegally and that evidence against them was being gathered. He added that some of the radio stations were being operated clandestinely and their operators went into hiding before they could be caught.

He rejected accusations that the recent raids on red-shirt radio stations were politically motivated.

"Isoc does not practise preferential treatment. We would report the violation of law, no matter which group or community runs the radio station," he said.

On Tuesday, police raided 13 community radio stations run by the red shirts in Bangkok and surrounding provinces. They managed to confiscate broadcasting equipment and closed down several, but their work was hindered at some of these stations by hundreds of red-shirt protesters who surrounded the police and refused to let them into the premises.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said yesterday that action had been taken because those radio stations had really broken the law by operating illegally, interfering with legal radio frequencies and provoking social unrest.

"Why would they be arrested if they didn't do anything wrong. The stations tried to provoke violence, and even urged soldiers not to follow orders. They did something wrong and they got caught - that is the truth," Prayuth said.

He added that there were other community radio stations that violated other laws, and he expected them to face legal action soon. "I don't think the authorities can arrest all of them in one day. Those with more serious offences get arrested first," he added.

The Army chief explained that the arrests resulted from monitoring done by Isoc, which works under the Prime Minister's Office and consists of personnel from the police, military and civilian agencies.

"Not all of them are soldiers, and I don't think they would deviate from the legally acceptable path," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-04-30

[Asa]

A thousand more denials, still it is so.

[Buchholz]

A thousand more denials, still it is so.

No need to deny even once.

If the radio stations are operating illegally without a license... then they are.... first and foremost.... uhmmm.... illegal.

[Thailand]

Yes,well done the powers that be, the radio stations could have been a major hinderance in the upcoming elections.

[Pi Sek]

Yes,well done the powers that be, the radio stations could have been a major hinderance in the upcoming elections.

Goodness me, some people really don't get it. I've bolded a couple of key phrases below just for clarity.

There are several hundred pro-red radio stations. I doubt that many of them will be promoting the Democrats in the upcoming election. But 14 of them got raided after public complaints of illegal broadcasting.

Some complaints were that they were broadcasting illegally as they weren't legally licensed and some complaints were that they were broadcasting illegally because of the illegal message they were broadcasting. Either way, they were breaking the Law and so got shut down.

There are several more still on-air. I expect some more will be closed down but, as the Army Chief has pointed out, "Those with more serious offences get arrested first".

Two questions for those who don't think that shutting down these stations was correct... I'd love a coherent answer:

1) They could have got a license and operate legally. Why didn't they?

2) Even if they had a license, do you think it is unreasonable to shut down a radio station broadcasting an illegal message?

I think that the reason they hadn't got licenses was because of accountability - they don't want it. And I also think that it is not unreasonable to shut down a licensed radio station broadcasting an illegal message.

Whether or not the Law is correct, it is the Law and we must abide by it if we wish to exist within the Law. If we wish to exist outside the Law, then don't be surprised when we're branded as "outlaws". Therefore debating whether an offence should or should not be an offence is rather trivial... because an offence is an offence. There are numerous examples of this paradox in every country in the world... certainly there are plenty in the UK. Did you know it is legal to kill any Scotsman carrying a bow and arrows within the walls of the city of York (excluding Sundays!)?

Why not campaign responsibly for the abolition of the Lese Majeste Law, or the Law that criminalises inciting violence, or whatever other Law rather than just breaking it (as some Red Shirt factions do)?

And one for everyone:

- 13 out of the 14 that were raided have been closed. One, presumably, is still operating. Why? (Is it the one where the police were unable to make the arrest/closure due to Red Shirt intimidation?)

[aaacorp]

Sure...no political reasons....do you know who deliver the licences???? guess.....

[mca]

Did you know it is legal to kill any Scotsman carrying a bow and arrows within the walls of the city of York (excluding Sundays!)?

Dear Sir Alex Ferguson

You are cordially invited to attend the 1st Annual York Archery Competition at the Premier Inn, York City Centre on Saturday 30th April 2010 at 1 pm. Interested contestants must supply their own equipment.

Yours Sincerely

Martin Atkinson.

[whybother]

Sure...no political reasons....do you know who deliver the licences???? guess.....

Have the red shirts complained about not getting licences that they have applied for?

[RKASA]

Sure...no political reasons....do you know who deliver the licences???? guess.....

Have the red shirts complained about not getting licences that they have applied for?

I think you own forum name explains it.

[whybother]

Sure...no political reasons....do you know who deliver the licences???? guess.....

Have the red shirts complained about not getting licences that they have applied for?

I think you own forum name explains it.

Not at all. Besides being very important for publicity, if they are not complaining about not getting licences, how can they complain about being shut down for operating illegally?

Of course, they complain anyway and get the publicity, but they only get sympathy from the people who would vote for them (or their master) anyway.

[Buchholz]

Yes,well done the powers that be, the radio stations could have been a major hinderance in the upcoming elections.

They are a hindrance to the legal radio stations that have a license and to their listeners.

complaints from local residents about the illegal radio stations' frequencies interfering with regular radio broadcasts

[Buchholz]

Sure...no political reasons....do you know who deliver the licences???? guess.....

Have the red shirts complained about not getting licences that they have applied for?

The Red Shirts have been non-compliant with applying for licenses for over 4 years now.

It goes back to their PTV days when they began broadcasting without a license:

PTV was the original Red Shirts with Jatuporn, Natthawut, Veera, Jakrapob, et al

1- No broadcast license

2- No accredited reporters

3- No satellite slot.

4- No domain name, but a website hosted with Bravehost

See it here.

The Real Player content takes a while to load but you'll be treated to a propaganda video, soundrack by Carabao.

'' Yeah, we found free web hosting! ''

I see they' re not supporting Thai IT businesses...

Mailing Address:

Bravenet

P.O. Box 1722,

Parksville, BC,

Canada, V9P 2H5

[jayboy]

Yes,well done the powers that be, the radio stations could have been a major hinderance in the upcoming elections.

They are a hindrance to the legal radio stations that have a license and to their listeners.

complaints from local residents about the illegal radio stations' frequencies interfering with regular radio broadcasts

Not a very helpful post.What's new?

The political partisanship shown by ISOC is exposed by the recent Human Rights Watch statement which ,inter alia, points out that of the hundreds of unlicensed community radio stations only those associated with Red Shirts have been targeted.However the military cheer leaders spin it, this is political interference in the pre-election period which should be roundly condemned although it's part of a larger pattern.

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/04/27/thailand-authorities-silence-red-shirt-community-radios

[Buchholz]

Yes,well done the powers that be, the radio stations could have been a major hinderance in the upcoming elections.

They are a hindrance to the legal radio stations that have a license and to their listeners.

complaints from local residents about the illegal radio stations' frequencies interfering with regular radio broadcasts

Not a very helpful post.

What's not helpful are illegal radio stations broadcasts, irregardless of content, interfering with the transmissions of legal radio stations.

[jayboy]

What's not helpful are illegal radio stations broadcasts, irregardless of content, interfering with the transmissions of legal radio stations.

You should have read the Human Rights Watch report quoted above.The ISOC's action is scandalous.Why were only Red Shirt stations targeted?

[asiawatcher]

What's not helpful are illegal radio stations broadcasts, irregardless of content, interfering with the transmissions of legal radio stations.

You should have read the Human Rights Watch report quoted above.The ISOC's action is scandalous.Why were only Red Shirt stations targeted?

Do you really need to ask that question?

[jayboy]

What's not helpful are illegal radio stations broadcasts, irregardless of content, interfering with the transmissions of legal radio stations.

You should have read the Human Rights Watch report quoted above.The ISOC's action is scandalous.Why were only Red Shirt stations targeted?

Do you really need to ask that question?

Not really.But it's important to expose lies and hypocrisy and the efforts of a greedy, corrupt and frightened elite to cheat the Thai people in the forthcoming election.The irony is that the manipulation and deceit probably isn't necessary - since most credible observers expect the re-election of the existing government, the elite's choice.

[jdinasia]

When discussing credibility of an organization or their press releases people should really look for the telling slips that happen....

such as .....

A court warrant, seen by Human Rights Watch, provided vague authorization for the raids on the ground that the community radio stations have been operating illegally. But among hundreds of unlicensed community radio stations across Thailand, only those closely linked with the Red Shirts have been targeted, Human Rights Watch said.

Now ----- HRW states that HRW reports that HRW ........ any external verification? A single source outside of the HRW? Nope!

The above quote if from the HRW link above talking about the HRW's report of what the HRW says

[TAWP]

It is a human right to run an un-licensed radio-station that interferes with other licensed radio-stations broadcasts?

[jdinasia]

It is a human right to run an un-licensed radio-station that interferes with other licensed radio-stations broadcasts?

Another reasonable question ..... are ANY of the other illegal radio stations politically aligned with people charged with terrorism or LM?

[jayboy]

As only too predictable the military cheerleaders slander Human Rights Watch (which has a distinguished and non-partisan record), and speculate dishonestly about LM.

For a serious analysis there is an excellent editorial in the other paper today pointing out that there are plenty of real problems for Thai politicians to concentrate on and that LM statements have almost zero support from the Thai people.

General Prayuth's actions are disgraceful, and his tenure will hopefully be short.Frankly he should have been sacked already.

[animatic]

Wild cat stations in USA lose their transmitters and the operators get stiff fines and jail for repeat offenders. The FCC has really upped the criteria for keeping a license. It is not a given you get and keep one; you are a public service with a grant of a time frame to use certain frequencies in certain areas and certain powers. You can lose a license simply for repeatedly 'over powering a station' and over lapping another areas stations.

You are licensed on the public airwaves, via a regulatory body, and as such can make commercial use with in the rules and laws. But that doesn't give the right to broadcast insurrection, sedition and racist lies, obscenity and non-factual information as facts and talk show hosts get called on such things regularly. Hence the term Shock Jock. they push the limits of the rules, and when they go to far stations ditch them or lose their licenses.

Why would Thailands airwaves regulations be LESS stringent....

Edited May 1, 2011 by animatic

[yoshiwara]

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said yesterday that action had been taken because those radio stations had really broken the law by operating illegally, interfering with legal radio frequencies and provoking social unrest.

"Why would they be arrested if they didn't do anything wrong. The stations tried to provoke violence, and even urged soldiers not to follow orders. They did something wrong and they got caught - that is the truth," Prayuth said.

The stations are intended to stir up violence? Well fancy that. Remember folks the red leopard doesn't change its spots. A chain of radio stations are part of their preparation. Since the reds are both arrogant and lazy they did not bother with the small print of operating the stations but even if they had they would have been done for incitement. Last year the authorities backed off in the place of intimidation and incitement. This year they have learned from their mistakes. Thaksin and the red team just go on repeating theirs.

[rubl]

Please excuse me if I'm a bit late joining this discussion. Holiday, I was in soi Cowboy for a moment, till they suddenly had to close about 2AM.

So red-shirt radio stations raided, closed ? I must admit I didn't tune in for months now. After watching PTV broadcasts last year, with lots of 'claiming in a loud voice' I tried to stay away from it all.

To be fair, if someone could tell me the frequencies to listen to yellow-shirt broadcasts I would give it a try and if necessary tell the police to shut them down

Edited May 1, 2011 by rubl

[Pi Sek]

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said yesterday that action had been taken because those radio stations had really broken the law by operating illegally, interfering with legal radio frequencies and provoking social unrest.

"Why would they be arrested if they didn't do anything wrong. The stations tried to provoke violence, and even urged soldiers not to follow orders. They did something wrong and they got caught - that is the truth," Prayuth said.

The stations are intended to stir up violence? Well fancy that. Remember folks the red leopard doesn't change its spots. A chain of radio stations are part of their preparation. Since the reds are both arrogant and lazy they did not bother with the small print of operating the stations but even if they had they would have been done for incitement. Last year the authorities backed off in the place of intimidation and incitement. This year they have learned from their mistakes. Thaksin and the red team just go on repeating theirs.

I don't think that's fair actually. To be honest, I very much doubt that these radio stations didn't have licenses because they were "lazy" - I think it's a question of accountability. I mean, if a licensed radio station was spouting the kind of stuff that they are alleged to have broadcast, they licensee would have a lot more problems on their plate than running an unlicensed radio station. Not getting a license was a good business decision... you can't ban ther licensee if there is no license.

[Pi Sek]

As only too predictable the military cheerleaders slander Human Rights Watch (which has a distinguished and non-partisan record), and speculate dishonestly about LM.

For a serious analysis there is an excellent editorial in the other paper today pointing out that there are plenty of real problems for Thai politicians to concentrate on and that LM statements have almost zero support from the Thai people.

General Prayuth's actions are disgraceful, and his tenure will hopefully be short.Frankly he should have been sacked already.

I believe HRW push their agenda too far, to the detriment of their own credibility... despite their admirable mission statement.

Does that make me a "military cheerleader"? Down to opinion and interpretation, I'm sure - but I would definitely not class myself as a "military cheerleader". Would you?

[jayboy]

As only too predictable the military cheerleaders slander Human Rights Watch (which has a distinguished and non-partisan record), and speculate dishonestly about LM.

For a serious analysis there is an excellent editorial in the other paper today pointing out that there are plenty of real problems for Thai politicians to concentrate on and that LM statements have almost zero support from the Thai people.

General Prayuth's actions are disgraceful, and his tenure will hopefully be short.Frankly he should have been sacked already.

I believe HRW push their agenda too far, to the detriment of their own credibility... despite their admirable mission statement.

Does that make me a "military cheerleader"? Down to opinion and interpretation, I'm sure - but I would definitely not class myself as a "military cheerleader". Would you?

No, from your posting record I wouldn't call you a military cheer leader at all.You lack the fanatacism, reactionary politics and refusal to condemn any of the Thai military's many excesses etc etc.

I take your point on HRW's slightly over the top statement.However it is not the only reputable organisation calling attention to the abuses of ISOC and General Prayuth.AHRC, the HK based human rights, organisation has alsoi issued strong condemnation.

There's a reasonable discussion to be had here with room for disagreement as always.My objection is to be force fed with Prayuth's laughable lies on the reasons for the crackdown, which needless to say are parroted mindlessly by military cheerleaders in the country.

[jdinasia]

As only too predictable the military cheerleaders slander Human Rights Watch (which has a distinguished and non-partisan record), and speculate dishonestly about LM.

For a serious analysis there is an excellent editorial in the other paper today pointing out that there are plenty of real problems for Thai politicians to concentrate on and that LM statements have almost zero support from the Thai people.

General Prayuth's actions are disgraceful, and his tenure will hopefully be short.Frankly he should have been sacked already.

I believe HRW push their agenda too far, to the detriment of their own credibility... despite their admirable mission statement.

Does that make me a "military cheerleader"? Down to opinion and interpretation, I'm sure - but I would definitely not class myself as a "military cheerleader". Would you?

Note --- I didn't see any "slander" (or libel in this case) --- but since it is a serious charge in Thailand --- I would like Jayboy to point out the slander for us all.

HRW didn't cite any criteria or numbers etc .... they did refer back to themselves though

[jayboy]

As only too predictable the military cheerleaders slander Human Rights Watch (which has a distinguished and non-partisan record), and speculate dishonestly about LM.

For a serious analysis there is an excellent editorial in the other paper today pointing out that there are plenty of real problems for Thai politicians to concentrate on and that LM statements have almost zero support from the Thai people.

General Prayuth's actions are disgraceful, and his tenure will hopefully be short.Frankly he should have been sacked already.

I believe HRW push their agenda too far, to the detriment of their own credibility... despite their admirable mission statement.

Does that make me a "military cheerleader"? Down to opinion and interpretation, I'm sure - but I would definitely not class myself as a "military cheerleader". Would you?

Note --- I didn't see any "slander" (or libel in this case) --- but since it is a serious charge in Thailand --- I would like Jayboy to point out the slander for us all.

HRW didn't cite any criteria or numbers etc .... they did refer back to themselves though

I have no idea what you are talking about I'm afraid with your references to slander and libel.Frankly if you want to pick a quarrel yet again, try someone else.

[jdinasia]

As only too predictable the military cheerleaders slander Human Rights Watch (which has a distinguished and non-partisan record), and speculate dishonestly about LM.

Please point out where HRW was slandered (sic). It is a serious charge in Thailand.