Harassment of Thai PBS condemned

[Lite Beer]

MEDIA INTERVENTION
Harassment of Thai PBS condemned
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Media groups hit out at military pressure that caused show host to be dropped

Media and human rights groups yesterday condemned what they described as severe harassment of the media, following pressure by military officers against public broadcaster Thai PBS that resulted in a programme host being replaced.

The groups called on the authorities to stop threatening or intervening in the media freedom and urged Thai PBS to stand firm to protect the right to report news and serve as responsible media.

The Thai Journalists Association (TJA), Thai Broadcast Journalists Association (TBJA), and Human Rights Lawyers Association (HRLA), as well as its five allied groups, yesterday issued separate statements in response to a controversy involving Thai PBS.

Thai PBS on Friday announced the replacement of Nattaya Wawweerakup, host of its programme "People's Voices that Need to be Heard before the Reform". The move came after pressure from a group of military officers who claimed who have acted on an order from their unnamed boss at the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Yesterday, the station said in its statement said the programme in question would continue to be broadcast. Thai PBS yesterday called for an end to the intervention and threat to the media, and it promised to serve as the mass media to the best of its ability, in a responsible way. "The media has the responsibility to report news freely and without any intervention," the statement said, insisting on Thai PBS's editorial independence.

Manop Thip-osot, spokesman for the TJA, yesterday said Nattaya's case was an example of "severe threat and intervention into the media".

He said although Thailand was now under martial law, the post-coup provisional charter guaranteed rights and liberties enjoyed under the previous charter that was abolished after the coup in May.

He also said that next week media groups would campaign publicly for annulment of NCPO Orders No 97 and 103 that restrict media freedom. He also called for lifting of martial law.

The TBJA condemned the act by the military officers, saying it was a direct threat to the media. It called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to give a clear stance on the matter. The group said he should make it clear if what the military officers did was a policy of the government and the NCPO, which Prayut also heads.

The HRLA, in its statement, said yesterday that that the act by the military officers in question was tantamount to violation of the media's rights and liberties. The association and five other groups called on the military to allow the media to perform their duties freely. They also urged the Thai PBS management to show moral courage in protecting media freedom.

Meanwhile, Army chief General Udomdej Sitabutr, who is also deputy defence minister, yesterday said that the military has not suspended any TV programme. He said that it seemed to him that the Thai PBS host has some attitude and misunderstanding that requires some adjustment.

Recently, Nattaya hosted the programme in Songkhla, with villagers and activists criticising the coup in response to provocative questions. The officers met with Thai PBS executives, asking for a shift in the focus of the programme and the removal of Nattaya as host.

An NCPO source said Nattaya's questions centred on whether southerners were comfortable under the NCPO and the government. The source said that the junta ordered three of its officers to meet Thai PBS chief Somchai Suwanban and seek his cooperation in the matter.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Harassment-of-Thai-PBS-condemned-30247858.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-16

[NongKhaiKid]

There's that phrase again, " attitude and misunderstanding that requires some adjustment " !

Perhaps the powers that be should be adjusting their own attitude towards freedom of speech and criticism with their ' or else ' heavy hand.

No misunderstanding there.

Great international publicity, oh wait, sorry doesn't the world completely understand the general and his junta ?

[Lex Talionis]

There's that phrase again, " attitude and misunderstanding that requires some adjustment " !

Perhaps the powers that be should be adjusting their own attitude towards freedom of speech and criticism with their ' or else ' heavy hand.

No misunderstanding there.

Great international publicity, oh wait, sorry doesn't the world completely understand the general and his junta ?

I was about to reply and then read your post and realized I couldn't of said it any better. Nail -> head.

[The stuttering parrot]

So they want an attitude adjustment,

Here's an adjustment for you.

Give Thailand back to the people!

[NongKhaiKid]

There's that phrase again, " attitude and misunderstanding that requires some adjustment " !

Perhaps the powers that be should be adjusting their own attitude towards freedom of speech and criticism with their ' or else ' heavy hand.

No misunderstanding there.

Great international publicity, oh wait, sorry doesn't the world completely understand the general and his junta ?

I was about to reply and then read your post and realized I couldn't of said it any better. Nail -> head.

Thanks, much appreciated.

[chooka]

There's that phrase again, " attitude and misunderstanding that requires some adjustment " !

Perhaps the powers that be should be adjusting their own attitude towards freedom of speech and criticism with their ' or else ' heavy hand.

No misunderstanding there.

Great international publicity, oh wait, sorry doesn't the world completely understand the general and his junta ?

Yes, we'll according to the dear leader alone the world understands and supports the Junta. Dear leader even speaks for the rest of the world with thier backing. The world loves and envies Thailand.

It must really hurt the dear leader that all those that love him and everything he stands for invited Myanmar to the G20 and not the most loved and respected leader in Asia. Mr 93.7%

Edited November 16, 2014 by chooka

[WhizBang]

There's that phrase again, " attitude and misunderstanding that requires some adjustment " !

Perhaps the powers that be should be adjusting their own attitude towards freedom of speech and criticism with their ' or else ' heavy hand.

No misunderstanding there.

Great international publicity, oh wait, sorry doesn't the world completely understand the general and his junta ?

And if the world leaders do not fully understand, I am sure the junta will call them in for an 'attitude readjustment' chat.

[MexicanFarang]

Thailand: Land of the Free...

[MaxLee]

Thailand: Land of the Free...

Or rather Thailand, the Land of the FREE KILLING, SUPPRESSION, SHUTDOWN by the influential Elite

[seajae]

"The media has the responsibility to report news freely and without any intervention,", couldnt have said it better but this also includes not deliberately trying to stir up sh*t by using loaded questions to get your required responses. By all means let the people state their own opinions without using provocative questions to get your required answers. This was purely an attempt to stir sh*t by the program, same as the yellows and reds do, if people have a grievance then let them state it in their terms and not have it set up purely for ratings of a tv station or for a required response. Honest reporting is far removed from any thai news service/program, they are simply all trying to create divisions with their half lies and innuendo, they want the peoples honest opinion just let them state it without being pushed into the responses the stations want. Having a tv station try to create their own required responses to back their personal views/biases or create divisions is exactly the same as trying to censor what is actually said or spoken about, both are wrong.

[heybruce]

No doubt the Thai Researchers in Community Happiness Association will release a poll showing 93% support for censorship.

[Mr Somtam]

Great international publicity, oh wait, sorry doesn't the world completely understand the general and his junta ?

I was about to reply and then read your post and realized I couldn't of said it any better. Nail -> head.

The world? Outside thailand?

[h90]

Not to forget: Thaksin put a lot "reds" into TPBS and no one complained about freedom of speech. Now when the General is telling them to stop with the red propaganda for a while everyone speaks about freedom of press. It isn't that TPBS is a private company and these people got into position by their skills.....It is state paid and they are cronies....

[chainarong]

As at of this moment the present administration can do what ever , when ever and no social back lash, because no one knows , so it is a good time for corruption and this mob are no different to their for fathers, each day I see rulings , contracts handed out (The Prayuth Transperancy) and no one is accountable for their actions, just another junta .

[NongKhaiKid]

Great international publicity, oh wait, sorry doesn't the world completely understand the general and his junta ?

I was about to reply and then read your post and realized I couldn't of said it any better. Nail -> head.

The world? Outside thailand?

Even the PM admits there is these days and they're all in step with LoS.

[aussieinthailand]

Not to forget: Thaksin put a lot "reds" into TPBS and no one complained about freedom of speech. Now when the General is telling them to stop with the red propaganda for a while everyone speaks about freedom of press. It isn't that TPBS is a private company and these people got into position by their skills.....It is state paid and they are cronies....

Post lucky number 13, to make a story about freedom of press and pressure by the military to replace host and stop asking provocative questions it doesn't like,

and you try to spin it into a Thaksin twist, C'mon man really

Edited November 16, 2014 by aussieinthailand

[WitawatWatawit]

Was this group of unnamed soldiers of unknown rank with unknown degree of authority allowed to dictate to a public body with the imprimatur of the government? Or did they act on their own volition? Is the military in full control of its officers? The army chief is reacting after the event, that is obvious, and there seems to be no other comment forthcoming, hence my questions.

In any event, surely Nattaya's questions down south are totally relevant to the junta, don't you think, considering the changes it is making to the way the situation is being handled? More especially so since the generals have said they want to understand the situation on the ground better. Well, Nattaya provided you with one opportunity - you should thank her and encourage her.

[bangrak]

"The media has the responsibility to report news freely and without any intervention,", couldnt have said it better but this also includes not deliberately trying to stir up sh*t by using loaded questions to get your required responses. By all means let the people state their own opinions without using provocative questions to get your required answers. This was purely an attempt to stir sh*t by the program, same as the yellows and reds do, if people have a grievance then let them state it in their terms and not have it set up purely for ratings of a tv station or for a required response. Honest reporting is far removed from any thai news service/program, they are simply all trying to create divisions with their half lies and innuendo, they want the peoples honest opinion just let them state it without being pushed into the responses the stations want. Having a tv station try to create their own required responses to back their personal views/biases or create divisions is exactly the same as trying to censor what is actually said or spoken about, both are wrong.

Yes, but then not at all like this! Let the NCPO send a letter, by porter, an officially mandated officer of some rank in casu, who possibly would read the letter to the TBPS management before handing it over to them. And, at the same time, showing respect(!) for the citizens, the NCPO, in a public motivated(!) statement, explains the reasons for 'issuing a warning' to TPBS, more precisely a certain programme and its anchor! Possible...

Not in a seaky backdoor way, by the Army commandment, by a group of 5 officers, officially having had become no orders, authorisation, too, and an Army chief going public a preposterous, official, denial about the matter. This is the typical way it would happen in a Central American 'Banana Republic' (where the Generals and Colonels usually outnumber the Sergeants, for another parallel...)! Outrageous!

And...

Chinese proverb: 'When the elephant starts to blare because of a fly on its back, he wakes up the villagers and makes them pay attention to a fly they hadn't even noticed the presence of before'

[bangrak]

Not to forget: Thaksin put a lot "reds" into TPBS and no one complained about freedom of speech. Now when the General is telling them to stop with the red propaganda for a while everyone speaks about freedom of press. It isn't that TPBS is a private company and these people got into position by their skills.....It is state paid and they are cronies....

Post lucky number 13, to make a story about freedom of press and pressure by the military to replace host and stop asking provocative questions it doesn't like,

and you try to spin it into a Thaksin twist, C'mon man really

IMO, maybe it wasn't necessary for 'h90' to remind us about the fact that Thaksin has brought quite some of his 'creatures' into TPBS, it might be border-off-topic, but we have so many reactions here, totally off-topic, misleading, abusive from what I call the 'soot brigade', that it really shouldn't bother any, unbiased, reader...

Where 'h90' no doubt IMO has a valid point though here, is when he reminds us that TPBS runs on State, taxpayers', money, what changes a thing or two for what the content of programmes is concerned, wouldn't you think? And when an anchor starts to 'lead' in her questions, in a biased direction, that would please a certain group of people opposed to the present authorities, like the Shins and their Thaksin for instance, it brings this mini-story in a very different light...

[SanSaiExPat]

"The media has the responsibility to report news freely and without any intervention,", couldnt have said it better but this also includes not deliberately trying to stir up sh*t by using loaded questions to get your required responses. By all means let the people state their own opinions without using provocative questions to get your required answers. This was purely an attempt to stir sh*t by the program, same as the yellows and reds do, if people have a grievance then let them state it in their terms and not have it set up purely for ratings of a tv station or for a required response. Honest reporting is far removed from any thai news service/program, they are simply all trying to create divisions with their half lies and innuendo, they want the peoples honest opinion just let them state it without being pushed into the responses the stations want. Having a tv station try to create their own required responses to back their personal views/biases or create divisions is exactly the same as trying to censor what is actually said or spoken about, both are wrong.

As my Thai wife would say, "You talk too much and don't say anything of substance." I paraphrase, of course. But you don't actually expect anyone to buy your argument that television editorial comment is, "the same as censorship"?. Do you?

[SaamBaht]

So the media got a visit by the mob. They presented him with an offer he couldn't refuse and he didn't.

That said, Thailand has never really had free speech. I can't see how anyone could be surprised by what happened. It's more overt. Thaksin did his own strong arming of the media. Remember the fallout on those stories on those cracks in the airport runway?

And let's not forget, anyone at anytime can turn you on lese majesty, right? And in that case, the police are obligated to investigate.

Better shut the hell up as most Thais do.

[blazes]

"The media has the responsibility to report news freely and without any intervention,", couldnt have said it better but this also includes not deliberately trying to stir up sh*t by using loaded questions to get your required responses. By all means let the people state their own opinions without using provocative questions to get your required answers. This was purely an attempt to stir sh*t by the program, same as the yellows and reds do, if people have a grievance then let them state it in their terms and not have it set up purely for ratings of a tv station or for a required response. Honest reporting is far removed from any thai news service/program, they are simply all trying to create divisions with their half lies and innuendo, they want the peoples honest opinion just let them state it without being pushed into the responses the stations want. Having a tv station try to create their own required responses to back their personal views/biases or create divisions is exactly the same as trying to censor what is actually said or spoken about, both are wrong.

Clearly, you have never watched Fox News (aka The Ministry of Propaganda).