Redshirt TV channel sues media regulator for 15 million Baht

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Redshirt TV Channel Sues Media Regulator for 15 Million Baht
By Khaosod English


Top Redshirt leader Jatuporn Prompan singing on a segment uploaded by Peace TV on YouTube, 26 June 2015.

BANGKOK — A satellite television station operated by the Redshirt movement is suing Thailand's state media regulator for 15 million baht in damages for "illegally" shutting down its channel two months ago.

Thanadet Puangpoon, a lawyer who represents Peace TV, filed the lawsuit at the Administrative Court today on behalf of the five Redshirt leaders who operate the station.

The Redshirt leaders are challenging the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission’s (NBTC) decision to revoke Peace TV’s license in April for allegedly violating junta orders that forbid the media from inciting unrest or causing "divisions in the Kingdom."

Speaking to reporters today, the station’s lawyer said the ruling was unlawful, and cited the backing of Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which has called the shutdown an excessive punishment and intrusion on free speech.

In May, the director of Thailand’s rights commission said he did not find any content on the channel that incited unrest or division, and urged the station to file a lawsuit.

"In this lawsuit, we would like the NBTC to compensate us for 15 million baht, because throughout the two months we were shut down, the company has accumulated 7.5 million baht in damages per month for not airing the programs," Thanadet said.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1435654052


-- Khaosod English 2015-06-30

[seajae]

hahahahaha, what a pack of losers, trying to get some money to put towards the massive payments for when they are made to attend court for all the crap they caused in 2010 and since when does the hum,an rights commission get a tv licences. Goes to show how utterly pathetic these people really are, they go on air pushing their red mantra then whinge when they get done for doing it, just hope it costs them sh*tloads, like the yellows they are a detriment to this country

[Bannum opinions]

Anyone unfamiliar with Thailand's political landscape would have no clue about the political forces at play here.

Peace TV? Red Shirt leaders? Red Shirt Movement? Red Shirt TV channel?

"Peace" TV sounds pretty benign. People wearing red shirts are obviously in a "Movement", Red Shirt Channel being a TV station.... but what has all of that got to do with Politics.

That obtuse representation is not by accident.......It is exactly what the Anti-Democrats want.

This representation obscures the fact there is a political divide between anti and pro Democracy forces. Identifying one side by its' affinity clothing colors instead of a political context, effectively avoids the other side being seen for what it is..

The anti-democrats not only want to hide their political proclivities, but more importantly, deny a political assignment to their opposites by avoiding political contextualization. If they correctly assign a pro-democracy designation to them, that presumes they are opposite.

This is along the same line of reasoning whereby the Lumpini PDRC tried to characterize themselves as being issue-driven, when in fact they were coup-driven.

Sometimes obscurity is in full view for those in the know.

Edited June 30, 2015 by Bannum opinions

[Srikcir]

If one can get beyond political divisiveness, the lawsuit is a fair test of NBTC using Prayut's advice as to what defines freedom of expression. NBTC refused to detail how any of the broadcast content violated existing organic law other than to draw on Prayut;s vague generalizations insinuating the need for peaceful content.

Even the Democrats and PDRC have pressed NBTC for clarification of what exactly was forbidden in the broadcasts as they did not want to breach the law in their own broadcasts. The NBTC refused to further comment. Prayut on the other hand denied he has no connection with the NBTC decision to shutdown the station and would not detail what specific content violated the law.

The success of the lawsuit will only be in its acceptance for trial. The Thai courts too often will delay proceedings for years even to decide whether to accept a case for trial, much less the time to issue a decision on a case. But it is in the best interest of the Thai public to see this case go forward.

[konying]

I guess lawyer and owners of "peace TV " would be called in for attitude adjustment shortly

[Eric Loh]

If one can get beyond political divisiveness, the lawsuit is a fair test of NBTC using Prayut's advice as to what defines freedom of expression. NBTC refused to detail how any of the broadcast content violated existing organic law other than to draw on Prayut;s vague generalizations insinuating the need for peaceful content.

Even the Democrats and PDRC have pressed NBTC for clarification of what exactly was forbidden in the broadcasts as they did not want to breach the law in their own broadcasts. The NBTC refused to further comment. Prayut on the other hand denied he has no connection with the NBTC decision to shutdown the station and would not detail what specific content violated the law.

The success of the lawsuit will only be in its acceptance for trial. The Thai courts too often will delay proceedings for years even to decide whether to accept a case for trial, much less the time to issue a decision on a case. But it is in the best interest of the Thai public to see this case go forward.

There is no fair test but discrimination considering the right leaning ASTV have also mocked the NCPO like in their parody on Saran Chuchai and they don't get shutdown.