Anti-govt protests: Thai Academics condemn demand to air speech

[webfact]

ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS
Academics condemn demand to air speech
The Nation


All six free television channels except NBT yesterday televised the statement by Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary-general of the People

Say protesters' pressure on TV stations was undemocratic

BANGKOK: -- Media academics yesterday slammed as undemocratic the demand by anti-government protesters for television stations to broadcast their announcement.

The People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) yesterday laid siege to six free-to-air television stations and demanded that they televise a speech by Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary general of the PDRC, in the evening. While some action had been expected against five of the stations, the inclusion of Thai PBS among the targeted channels - and the demand that the speech be televised - were unexpected.

"This was like an act of a kind of dictatorship performed under a group of people, which was undemocratic," veteran journalist Somkiat Onwimon tweeted yesterday.

He said the demonstrators should not put pressure on or intimidate the media. What they had done was not consistent with the democracy they claimed to want to build.

"To seize television stations to control the broadcast signal is a threat to force people to listen to only one side of a story. So where is the freedom?" he wrote.

If the protesters were truly democratic they would have allowed the media to check on what they said on the stage. If they distorted the information on their stage, media outlets could scrutinise them.

Somkiat urged all media stations not to bow to pressure from the protest group.

Pirongrong Ramasoota Rananand, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Communication Arts, said the PDRC's justification for occupying free TV stations to issue a revolutionary discourse was deeply flawed, if they still insisted that their end was democratic reform. The "blind spot" was that only dictatorial military juntas take over the media to monopolise information disseminated to the public.

The people's right to know and the news media's freedom of expression were guaranteed in the Constitution, along with people's freedom of assembly. It was important not to rationalise the use of undemocratic means with a supposedly democratic end. That was at best insincere and farcical.

People in the rally were now angry and easily misled. Their leaders must not exploit rally sentiments for obscure gains.

The protesters' strategy was to seize all free TV stations to televise speeches made by Suthep. They also demanded that Thai PBS televise the Blue Sky channel (affiliated with the Democrat Party). Protest leaders tried to negotiate with station executives to follow their demands.

All six free channels except NBT, which served a live interview of Wim Rungwattanajinda, Secretary to PM's Office Minister, on its special programme, finally televised Suthep's announcement.

Earlier, Sakoltee Phattiyakul, a core PDRC member, suddenly changed his plan from occupying the Commerce Ministry to target Thai PBS on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. Sakoltee called on Thai PBS executives to provide a broadcast link to the Government Complex rally so protest leaders' speeches could be broadcast live. Tense negotiations between Thai PBS and Sakoltee went on for several hours.

Thaworn Senneam, who led the protest to NBT, said earlier that NBT executives also agreed to hook up a signal carrying Suthep's statement on air. However, the protesters remained at NBT to see if Suthep was televised.


-- The Nation 2013-12-02

[Thai at Heart]

If it interrupted a soap opera, I'm all for it.

[plachon]

I'm not surprised they condemned it. Who does Suthep think he is? Thaksin Shinawatra?

Suthep has seriously lost the plot and one can just sense this is all going to end badly for him and ultimately, Thailand.

Plus ca change........

[Prbkk]

Do they find the demand so surprising? Of course it's undemocratic but what else did they expect from this 'born to rule' thug and his cronies? I would have expected more: unlimited air time, replays of his " people's committee" manifesto.and so on. A dangerous and nasty piece of work who is determined to set Thailand on a course for its own Kristallnact

[Jawnie]

If it interrupted a soap opera, I'm all for it.

It would be a soap opera interrupting a soap opera.

[Yunla]

All channels of data and discussion should be 100% open. The only thing that should not be broadcast or distributed is kiddy porn and similar exploitation/torture material.

Any opinions / statements should be queued for broadcasting, regardless of views or of the social-standing of the person giving his/her speech. People should not have to break into TV stations for that. This nation (and all nations) are like bodies, where data distribution (including speech) is the blood of the nation, and the blood vessels are the media outlet sources. Nations where the media vessels are clogged up tight, die from heart attack. Nations that can not discuss or debate issues, are nations where violence more frequently replaces the discourse.

Edited December 1, 2013 by Yunla

[slipperylobster]

Well, I just got some extra baht this month.... Hate to see the violence though. Hope they sort it out, but it sure would be nice for that baht to make up for all those extra skin taxes I have been paying.

[chainarong]

I can't see much mileage in this sort of tactic's , is there some one in Thailand who hasn't heard of the reason why the protesters are on the streets or have they changed the playing field again, we started off as a protest against the Amnesty bill, then it cranked up to over throw the government, okay there's a multitude of reasons why anyone with half a brain would like to see this administration kicked out, so apply pressure for an election, enough said. PS. Memo Abhisit: Tell your supporters to Behave themselves on the streets, public disobedience is not the way to go , you may lose more than you gain.

[affen02]

It is really strange to read all the support Suthep Secretary General of the people bla bla bla gets from foreigners in this forum. Occupying government buildings, telling his followers to go for broke, demanding air time and so on, and the most tragic one, wanting a state with peoples comittes to run the country. Things come to my mind, Pol Pot, Soviet Union, North Korea these failed states were and one of them still are, great with democratic word play. Things that also comes to my mind is murder platoons that drag you out of your cell early in the morning and shoot you because you have a different way of thinking than their leaders. I can in my heart not understand nor find, any logic reason why so many people in here support the methodes of Dear Leader Secretary General Suthep, in his fight to change the political system in this country. After what i can read and what i can see, his reasons for starting the madness going on these days, is personal and not for the greater good for Thailand. And i ask, would any of you like to see this kind of thing happen in your country.

[AryanicAristocrat]

Oh Pleeze, can all these so called academics shut up and just concentrate on providing a proper education. At the moment all thai degrees are no better than toilet paper. Most of these academics are just failures in their own life and just want publicity in times of crisis.

As far as the media is concerned, most of them are just as corrupt as the politicians they serve. Many of these journalists can be bought to write articles. (as any pr company in thailand). As most of these journalists do not even check on the pr releases given to them to publish!

[noitom]

He is publicly calling for the overthrow and associated actions against (taking over government buildings) a legally elected government. This used to be called anarchy.

[culicine]

Perhaps people were frustrated at the complete lack of protest coverage by government controlled media....isn't that also undemocratic?What were they trying to hide?

[zydeco]

It is really strange to read all the support Suthep Secretary General of the people bla bla bla gets from foreigners in this forum. Occupying government buildings, telling his followers to go for broke, demanding air time and so on, and the most tragic one, wanting a state with peoples comittes to run the country. Things come to my mind, Pol Pot, Soviet Union, North Korea these failed states were and one of them still are, great with democratic word play. Things that also comes to my mind is murder platoons that drag you out of your cell early in the morning and shoot you because you have a different way of thinking than their leaders. I can in my heart not understand nor find, any logic reason why so many people in here support the methodes of Dear Leader Secretary General Suthep, in his fight to change the political system in this country. After what i can read and what i can see, his reasons for starting the madness going on these days, is personal and not for the greater good for Thailand. And i ask, would any of you like to see this kind of thing happen in your country.

I don't quite see how this generalized rant has much to do with the specifics of this thread. But just a point for you to consider. There is only one side of this unrest that has ties to anyone connected with Pol Pot. The affinity of a certain family and many Redshirt leaders with Hun Sen is undeniable. And Hun Sen was a member of the Khmer Rouge. Case closed.

[chooka]

I'm not surprised they condemned it. Who does Suthep think he is? Thaksin Shinawatra?

Suthep has seriously lost the plot and one can just sense this is all going to end badly for him and ultimately, Thailand.

Plus ca change........

Just wait until the country is all his.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJIlCSBfksM&feature=player_detailpage

[Biscuit22]

I thought this thread would draw out all the red camp.

Please don't ignore the fact that these stations and their broadcasts are all government manipulated.

The strategy was to remove that manipulation for a single broadcast.

Or do you prefer the Thaksin schedule?

These stations would have been ordered by the government NOT to broadcast Suthep's speech. They all normally have a pro-government stance on all of the news reported.

THAT IS A DICTATORSHIP!!

It is very common for protestors to seize 'government controlled state media' during an uprising. That is the whole idea of getting the correct message out to the people.... not a doctored one.

[96tehtarp]

If it interrupted a soap opera, I'm all for it.

It would be a soap opera interrupting a soap opera.

Actually they didn't interrupt the soap-opera, one channel had a PIP, that's a Picture-In-Picture of the speech so as not to interrupt the soap. Now that's called having your soap and eating it too.

[chooka]

I thought this thread would draw out all the red camp.

Please don't ignore the fact that these stations and their broadcasts are all government manipulated.

The strategy was to remove that manipulation for a single broadcast.

Or do you prefer the Thaksin schedule?

These stations would have been ordered by the government NOT to broadcast Suthep's speech. They all normally have a pro-government stance on all of the news reported.

THAT IS A DICTATORSHIP!!

It is very common for protestors to seize 'government controlled state media' during an uprising. That is the whole idea of getting the correct message out to the people.... not a doctored one.

Are you saying if you speak out against this Kaos then you must be a red shirt supporter?

[taff33]

Why are so many Dems,yellow shirts,hi-sos and falangs afraid of the Thaksins.

[englishoak]

All governments censor their media, as for an uprising its more like a bunch of spoiled brats stamping their feet in the playground crying as usual if they dont get what they want . Heres an idea, do it in the elections properly when the next comes around, in the meantime go do something productive like build a decent alternative party worth supporting and let people get on without all the stupid soap dramas.

[craigt3365]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_of_Thailand

Major television stations are owned and controlled by the Royal Thai Army or government.

[smedly]

There are probably three ways this could have gone down

Protesters making sure it got aired (which is what happened)

Government forcing them not to air it (which probably would have happened and it's called censorship)

Media being left to make their own choice (never happen in Thailand with this government)

[sfbandung]

Is it just me who thinks Suthep is dangerous? He's got despot written all over him.

[mojorison]

With the exception of Matichon, every other media outlet whether it be TV, press, or magazine is controlled or owned by those with strong yellow allegiances. And at the top you have the CAT, completely managed and manipulated by the yellow faction. So to say otherwise is ill informed, and yes Head is a fool, but I tend to believe he is more sympathetic to the yellows??

[craigt3365]

With the exception of Matichon, every other media outlet whether it be TV, press, or magazine is controlled or owned by those with strong yellow allegiances. And at the top you have the CAT, completely managed and manipulated by the yellow faction. So to say otherwise is ill informed, and yes Head is a fool, but I tend to believe he is more sympathetic to the yellows??

Please don't post inaccurate information. As for TV, please see my post above.

[binjalin]

He is publicly calling for the overthrow and associated actions against (taking over government buildings) a legally elected government. This used to be called anarchy.

this used to be called an attempted coup

[Xonax]

He is publicly calling for the overthrow and associated actions against (taking over government buildings) a legally elected government. This used to be called anarchy.

Legally elected government? Since when has vote buying been legal?? Only because the election commission was bought as well, nothing happened about it!!!

Since when has massive corruption been legal? Since when has abuse of power been legal??

[Halion]

Why are so many Dems,yellow shirts,hi-sos and falangs afraid of the Thaksins.

Perhaps it is simply because they have both the intelligence and intellect to recognize the symptoms of cancer and their opinions an not be bought for 500 Baht.

[Thai at Heart]

Is it just me who thinks Suthep is dangerous? He's got despot written all over him.

Suthep?

He's about as dangerous as mini me

[ginjag]

Why are so many Dems,yellow shirts,hi-sos and falangs afraid of the Thaksins.

I don't think they fear them, this clan disgusts them, corrupt over the corrupt, it's a kind of hatred more than fear.

[affen02]

Oh Pleeze, can all these so called academics shut up and just concentrate on providing a proper education. At the moment all thai degrees are no better than toilet paper. Most of these academics are just failures in their own life and just want publicity in times of crisis.

As far as the media is concerned, most of them are just as corrupt as the politicians they serve. Many of these journalists can be bought to write articles. (as any pr company in thailand). As most of these journalists do not even check on the pr releases given to them to publish!