Thai 'Red Shirt' TV station to go back on air

[webfact]

Thai opposition 'Red Shirt' TV station to go back on air

BANGKOK: -- A Thai court Thursday issued an injunction allowing a television network run by the opposition "Red Shirt" movement to resume broadcasting after it was taken off air for breaking a junta ban on political programming.

Thailand’s sharply polarised political channels were one of the first casualties of the censorship imposed after the May 2014 military coup.

A ban on them was later lifted on the condition they stayed clear of controversial issues, but in April Red Shirt mouthpiece Peace TV was ordered off air after junta leaders and the national broadcasting regulator accused it of breaking the rules.

But on Thursday the station won its bid to resume broadcasts.

"The Central Administrative Court has relaxed the decision of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission which withdrew the license of Peace TV," the Bangkok court said in a statement.

It added that the station must cooperate with the junta’s broadcasting rules and that its injunction would come into effect Saturday.

Red Shirt chairman Jatuporn Prompan, whose daily programme on Peace TV was accused of causing "divisions and misunderstandings", said he would suspend his personal show until the dispute was fully resolved.

"We will take three days to prepare and begin (TV) broadcasting again on Monday," he told AFP.

His show can still be watched on YouTube where Peace TV also broadcasts.

The Red Shirts, officially known as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), back the toppled government of former premier Yingluck Shinawatra.

Post-coup, their leaders have either renounced the cause, fled into self-exile or -- like Jatuporn -- agreed to abandon politics.

The military takeover last year was the latest crisis in a kingdom that has been riven by bitter political divisions since 2006, when Yingluck’s brother Thaksin was ousted in an earlier military coup, backed by the Bangkok-based royalist establishment.

The capital-based elites despise the Shinawatras -- wildly popular in the north and northeast and whose parties have won every election since 2001 -- accusing them of poisoning politics with populism, corruption and cronyism.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thai-opposition-Red-Shirt-TV-station-to-go-back-on-30264600.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-16

[coulson]

I hope it doesn't clash with Uncle's 'final thought for the day'...........

[halloween]

Why aren't the UDD leaders in court now that their parliamentary immunity has been cancelled?

[brewsterbudgen]

Why aren't the UDD leaders in court now that their parliamentary immunity has been cancelled?

It's all about peace and reconciliation, brother.

[Ricardo]

So a Thai court allows 'Peace TV' to resume broadcasting, is this an example of courts ruling correctly on the law, or of government-interference in the legal-system as so-often alleged, it's confusing to know what we're supposed to be thinking ?

Whatever, I hope that 'Peace TV' stays within the junta's broadcasting-guidelines this time, and doesn't get shut down again for allegedly causing "divisions and misunderstandings".

[Yunla]

The giving of enough rope.

[tbthailand]

So a Thai court allows 'Peace TV' to resume broadcasting, is this an example of courts ruling correctly on the law, or of government-interference in the legal-system as so-often alleged, it's confusing to know what we're supposed to be thinking ?

Whatever, I hope that 'Peace TV' stays within the junta's broadcasting-guidelines this time, and doesn't get shut down again for allegedly causing "divisions and misunderstandings".

Whatever, I hope that the junta lifts all bans on free speech and free assembly and stops arbitrary detentions, arrests, and military trials of civilians, ....

Nah, won't happen...

[djjamie]

This must be very frustrating for the red shirts. It seems their objective was to be removed from air to make the Junta look bad. They went out of their way to be removed with the vile narrative that they spread over the airwaves.

And then just like the submarine issue where the Junta are listening to the majority and governing responsibly they have now been overruled by the courts. I wonder if we will see Prayut in from of the court house throwing sh*t at the gates, releasing the addresses of the judges or burning effigies of the judges...Nope...This big bad junta seems to be doing everything democratically and is must be frustrating the reds to no end especially when the Junta are more democratic in 14 of the 15 principles than the reds are..

Yes, yes elections..I get it!

I look forward to Peace TV being rebroadcast and look forward to Jatuporn going back on air only to break the law again by creating division, inciting unrest and doing all the things that the 7%'ers are synonymous with. The next time the program is banned it will be with the courts blessing because Jatuporn is completely incapable of adhering to the laws of Thailand.

I wonder if Kim in North Korea would have been overruled by the courts? The comparison is ridiculous in the extreme and it highlights the frustration of some by using this illogical reasoning.

Edited July 16, 2015 by djjamie

[baboon]

This must be very frustrating for the red shirts. It seems their objective was to be removed from air to make the Junta look bad. They went out of their way to be removed with the vile narrative that they spread over the airwaves.

And then just like the submarine issue where the Junta are listening to the majority and governing responsibly they have now been overruled by the courts. I wonder if we will see Prayut in from of the court house throwing sh*t at the gates, releasing the addresses of the judges or burning effigies of the judges...Nope...This big bad junta seems to be doing everything democratically and is must be frustrating the reds to no end especially when the Junta are more democratic in 14 of the 15 principles than the reds are..

Yes, yes elections..I get it!

I look forward to Peace TV being rebroadcast and look forward to Jatuporn going back on air only to break the law again by creating division, inciting unrest and doing all the things that the 7%'ers are synonymous with. The next time the program is banned it will be with the courts blessing because Jatuporn is completely incapable of adhering to the laws of Thailand.

I wonder if Kim in North Korea would have been overruled by the courts? The comparison is ridiculous in the extreme and it highlights the frustration of some by using this illogical reasoning.

The DPRK has a democratically elected parliament. Thailand does not. Leave the DPRK out of it as you clearly know nothing about the place.

[Anthony5]

This must be very frustrating for the red shirts. It seems their objective was to be removed from air to make the Junta look bad. They went out of their way to be removed with the vile narrative that they spread over the airwaves.

And then just like the submarine issue where the Junta are listening to the majority and governing responsibly they have now been overruled by the courts. I wonder if we will see Prayut in from of the court house throwing sh*t at the gates, releasing the addresses of the judges or burning effigies of the judges...Nope...This big bad junta seems to be doing everything democratically and is must be frustrating the reds to no end especially when the Junta are more democratic in 14 of the 15 principles than the reds are..

Yes, yes elections..I get it!

I look forward to Peace TV being rebroadcast and look forward to Jatuporn going back on air only to break the law again by creating division, inciting unrest and doing all the things that the 7%'ers are synonymous with. The next time the program is banned it will be with the courts blessing because Jatuporn is completely incapable of adhering to the laws of Thailand.

I wonder if Kim in North Korea would have been overruled by the courts? The comparison is ridiculous in the extreme and it highlights the frustration of some by using this illogical reasoning.

So according to you the red shirts went out of their way to get the tv station closed, but at the same time went to the court to fight the closure.

Of course you don't have a biased opinion.

[djjamie]

This must be very frustrating for the red shirts. It seems their objective was to be removed from air to make the Junta look bad. They went out of their way to be removed with the vile narrative that they spread over the airwaves.

And then just like the submarine issue where the Junta are listening to the majority and governing responsibly they have now been overruled by the courts. I wonder if we will see Prayut in from of the court house throwing sh*t at the gates, releasing the addresses of the judges or burning effigies of the judges...Nope...This big bad junta seems to be doing everything democratically and is must be frustrating the reds to no end especially when the Junta are more democratic in 14 of the 15 principles than the reds are..

Yes, yes elections..I get it!

I look forward to Peace TV being rebroadcast and look forward to Jatuporn going back on air only to break the law again by creating division, inciting unrest and doing all the things that the 7%'ers are synonymous with. The next time the program is banned it will be with the courts blessing because Jatuporn is completely incapable of adhering to the laws of Thailand.

I wonder if Kim in North Korea would have been overruled by the courts? The comparison is ridiculous in the extreme and it highlights the frustration of some by using this illogical reasoning.

The DPRK has a democratically elected parliament. Thailand does not. Leave the DPRK out of it as you clearly know nothing about the place.

So you agree the comparison is ridiculous in the extreme.

Thank you. It is nice to agree with you for a change.

[baboon]

This must be very frustrating for the red shirts. It seems their objective was to be removed from air to make the Junta look bad. They went out of their way to be removed with the vile narrative that they spread over the airwaves.

And then just like the submarine issue where the Junta are listening to the majority and governing responsibly they have now been overruled by the courts. I wonder if we will see Prayut in from of the court house throwing sh*t at the gates, releasing the addresses of the judges or burning effigies of the judges...Nope...This big bad junta seems to be doing everything democratically and is must be frustrating the reds to no end especially when the Junta are more democratic in 14 of the 15 principles than the reds are..

Yes, yes elections..I get it!

I look forward to Peace TV being rebroadcast and look forward to Jatuporn going back on air only to break the law again by creating division, inciting unrest and doing all the things that the 7%'ers are synonymous with. The next time the program is banned it will be with the courts blessing because Jatuporn is completely incapable of adhering to the laws of Thailand.

I wonder if Kim in North Korea would have been overruled by the courts? The comparison is ridiculous in the extreme and it highlights the frustration of some by using this illogical reasoning.

The DPRK has a democratically elected parliament. Thailand does not. Leave the DPRK out of it as you clearly know nothing about the place.

So you agree the comparison is ridiculous in the extreme.

Thank you. It is nice to agree with you for a change.

It certainly is ridiculous that you tried to bring a country you know nothing about into the discussion, yes.

Thank you for agreeing and have a lovely evening.

[JAG]

This must be very frustrating for the red shirts. It seems their objective was to be removed from air to make the Junta look bad. They went out of their way to be removed with the vile narrative that they spread over the airwaves.

And then just like the submarine issue where the Junta are listening to the majority and governing responsibly they have now been overruled by the courts. I wonder if we will see Prayut in from of the court house throwing sh*t at the gates, releasing the addresses of the judges or burning effigies of the judges...Nope...This big bad junta seems to be doing everything democratically and is must be frustrating the reds to no end especially when the Junta are more democratic in 14 of the 15 principles than the reds are..

Yes, yes elections..I get it!

I look forward to Peace TV being rebroadcast and look forward to Jatuporn going back on air only to break the law again by creating division, inciting unrest and doing all the things that the 7%'ers are synonymous with. The next time the program is banned it will be with the courts blessing because Jatuporn is completely incapable of adhering to the laws of Thailand.

I wonder if Kim in North Korea would have been overruled by the courts? The comparison is ridiculous in the extreme and it highlights the frustration of some by using this illogical reasoning.

Ah those much quoted principles raise their head again.

Now then, you never did get round to explaining what they are did you. Care to enlighten us miserable 7%?

We won't hold our breath though.

[rametindallas]

I am delighted that Red Shirt TV is back on the air. I hope they can stay within the framework set down by the Powers-that-be. Thailand needs dissenting voices heard publicly. Even if they are toned down, it is a start.

Jatuporn's mouth is his (and the UDD's) worst enemy and his talent is rabble-rousing (something particularly not need in the present situation); certainly there are spokespersons for the UDD cause who are more subtle that this hammer and who are able to drive home some points without getting banned again. I think Isaan and Northern people don't need to be beaten over the head with radical rhetoric to get the message. Can't they find an 'Isaan Abhisit'?

The UDD needs slow down and think about the 'long game'. Every government, even a transitional reform government, needs an opposition to keep them honest.

.

Edited July 16, 2015 by rametindallas

[LannaGuy]

This must be very frustrating for the red shirts. It seems their objective was to be removed from air to make the Junta look bad. They went out of their way to be removed with the vile narrative that they spread over the airwaves.

And then just like the submarine issue where the Junta are listening to the majority and governing responsibly they have now been overruled by the courts. I wonder if we will see Prayut in from of the court house throwing sh*t at the gates, releasing the addresses of the judges or burning effigies of the judges...Nope...This big bad junta seems to be doing everything democratically and is must be frustrating the reds to no end especially when the Junta are more democratic in 14 of the 15 principles than the reds are..

Yes, yes elections..I get it!

I look forward to Peace TV being rebroadcast and look forward to Jatuporn going back on air only to break the law again by creating division, inciting unrest and doing all the things that the 7%'ers are synonymous with. The next time the program is banned it will be with the courts blessing because Jatuporn is completely incapable of adhering to the laws of Thailand.

I wonder if Kim in North Korea would have been overruled by the courts? The comparison is ridiculous in the extreme and it highlights the frustration of some by using this illogical reasoning.

pathetic

[ezzra]

Talking about flogging a dead horse, when will the man in Dubai will understand that his time

in the sun has past,, sure, he can still muster his minions to follow him as long as he promises

to pay them loads of money for their blood and pains, but he's a spent cartridge, a has been,

and his messages are pretty hallow by now...

[tonbridgebrit]

Let's get real here. How on earth can the Nation Newspaper be allowed to carry on, and Peace TV be banned ??

Yes, Thailand has accepted CONSISTENCY in the law. Tha Nation Newspaper is, off-course, the English languae mouthpiece of the Chinese-Thai yellowshirts. Look at the staff of the Nation Newspaper, their names might be Thai, but they all look the same as people who work in your local Chinese Take-Away or restaurant. That's because they ARE a bunch of Chinese, or people who have Chinese ancestry.

Yes, Thailand must either ban the Nation Newspaper because the Nation does actually print stories about the junta that are not favourable. Or if it is going to allow freedom of expression for the Yellowshirts, well, they're going to have to give the Thai-Thais freedom of expression as well. The Thai-Thais, that's the dark-skinned and 'eyes are not so slitty' people, that's the people who make up the redshirts.

Yes, telling the redshirts to shut-up criticising the junta, and allowing the yellow-shirts to voice their criticism, that just makes the system look ridiculous. They could tell both to shut-up, but it would never happen. Nothing can stop the real power in Thailand, and the real power are the minority Chinese-Thais who are also called the Bangkok middle-class by some of the newspapers.

[rametindallas]

Let's get real here. How on earth can the Nation Newspaper be allowed to carry on, and Peace TV be banned ??

Yes, Thailand has accepted CONSISTENCY in the law. Tha Nation Newspaper is, off-course, the English languae mouthpiece of the Chinese-Thai yellowshirts. Look at the staff of the Nation Newspaper, their names might be Thai, but they all look the same as people who work in your local Chinese Take-Away or restaurant. That's because they ARE a bunch of Chinese, or people who have Chinese ancestry.

Yes, Thailand must either ban the Nation Newspaper because the Nation does actually print stories about the junta that are not favourable. Or if it is going to allow freedom of expression for the Yellowshirts, well, they're going to have to give the Thai-Thais freedom of expression as well. The Thai-Thais, that's the dark-skinned and 'eyes are not so slitty' people, that's the people who make up the redshirts.

Yes, telling the redshirts to shut-up criticising the junta, and allowing the yellow-shirts to voice their criticism, that just makes the system look ridiculous. They could tell both to shut-up, but it would never happen. Nothing can stop the real power in Thailand, and the real power are the minority Chinese-Thais who are also called the Bangkok middle-class by some of the newspapers.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that the Shinawatra family is Chinese-Thai with no Thai blood mixed in. Lord Valdemort na Dubai is nearly as 'square-faced' as Jack Ma, the Chinese founder of Alibaba.com.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that 'The Nation' has been publishing long before there was such a thing as PAD (Yellow Shirts)

I guess no one bothered to tell you that PAD or Yellow Shirts no longer exist because, unlike the UDD, no one is funding them.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that the Red Shirt TV was shut down for inciting discontent and not for "criticising the junta".

Your post, and therefore your attitude, is racist and bigoted against the 40% of Thais who have Chinese ancestry. Your 'facts' aren't logical nor are they correct in any way. I don't mind your obvious bias, but please stop posting your hateful views.

.

[djjamie]

Let's get real here. How on earth can the Nation Newspaper be allowed to carry on, and Peace TV be banned ??

Yes, Thailand has accepted CONSISTENCY in the law. Tha Nation Newspaper is, off-course, the English languae mouthpiece of the Chinese-Thai yellowshirts. Look at the staff of the Nation Newspaper, their names might be Thai, but they all look the same as people who work in your local Chinese Take-Away or restaurant. That's because they ARE a bunch of Chinese, or people who have Chinese ancestry.

Yes, Thailand must either ban the Nation Newspaper because the Nation does actually print stories about the junta that are not favourable. Or if it is going to allow freedom of expression for the Yellowshirts, well, they're going to have to give the Thai-Thais freedom of expression as well. The Thai-Thais, that's the dark-skinned and 'eyes are not so slitty' people, that's the people who make up the redshirts.

Yes, telling the redshirts to shut-up criticising the junta, and allowing the yellow-shirts to voice their criticism, that just makes the system look ridiculous. They could tell both to shut-up, but it would never happen. Nothing can stop the real power in Thailand, and the real power are the minority Chinese-Thais who are also called the Bangkok middle-class by some of the newspapers.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that the Shinawatra family is Chinese-Thai with no Thai blood mixed in. Lord Valdemort na Dubai is nearly as 'square-faced' as Jack Ma, the Chinese founder of Alibaba.com.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that 'The Nation' has been publishing long before there was such a thing as PAD (Yellow Shirts)

I guess no one bothered to tell you that PAD or Yellow Shirts no longer exist because, unlike the UDD, no one is funding them.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that the Red Shirt TV was shut down for inciting discontent and not for "criticising the junta".

Your post, and therefore your attitude, is racist and bigoted against the 40% of Thais who have Chinese ancestry. Your 'facts' aren't logical nor are they correct in any way. I don't mind your obvious bias, but please stop posting your hateful views.

.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that the Red Shirt TV was shut down for inciting discontent and not for "criticising the junta".

You have stated facts with the above being my favourite...Not one of them can denounce that. Not one...To reiterate...Not one.

Now get ready for them to reply with their BELIEFS!!!!

Edited July 16, 2015 by djjamie

[Linky]

This must be very frustrating for the red shirts. It seems their objective was to be removed from air to make the Junta look bad. They went out of their way to be removed with the vile narrative that they spread over the airwaves.

And then just like the submarine issue where the Junta are listening to the majority and governing responsibly they have now been overruled by the courts. I wonder if we will see Prayut in from of the court house throwing sh*t at the gates, releasing the addresses of the judges or burning effigies of the judges...Nope...This big bad junta seems to be doing everything democratically and is must be frustrating the reds to no end especially when the Junta are more democratic in 14 of the 15 principles than the reds are..

Yes, yes elections..I get it!

I look forward to Peace TV being rebroadcast and look forward to Jatuporn going back on air only to break the law again by creating division, inciting unrest and doing all the things that the 7%'ers are synonymous with. The next time the program is banned it will be with the courts blessing because Jatuporn is completely incapable of adhering to the laws of Thailand.

I wonder if Kim in North Korea would have been overruled by the courts? The comparison is ridiculous in the extreme and it highlights the frustration of some by using this illogical reasoning.

You speak Thai, fantastic, i have always wanted to know the vile narrative that they spread over the airways. Do tell.

[tbthailand]

This must be very frustrating for the red shirts. It seems their objective was to be removed from air to make the Junta look bad. They went out of their way to be removed with the vile narrative that they spread over the airwaves.

And then just like the submarine issue where the Junta are listening to the majority and governing responsibly they have now been overruled by the courts. I wonder if we will see Prayut in from of the court house throwing sh*t at the gates, releasing the addresses of the judges or burning effigies of the judges...Nope...This big bad junta seems to be doing everything democratically and is must be frustrating the reds to no end especially when the Junta are more democratic in 14 of the 15 principles than the reds are..

Yes, yes elections..I get it!

I look forward to Peace TV being rebroadcast and look forward to Jatuporn going back on air only to break the law again by creating division, inciting unrest and doing all the things that the 7%'ers are synonymous with. The next time the program is banned it will be with the courts blessing because Jatuporn is completely incapable of adhering to the laws of Thailand.

I wonder if Kim in North Korea would have been overruled by the courts? The comparison is ridiculous in the extreme and it highlights the frustration of some by using this illogical reasoning.

So according to you the red shirts went out of their way to get the tv station closed, but at the same time went to the court to fight the closure.

Of course you don't have a biased opinion.

I believe that the other adjective fitting this case would be "informed"

[tbthailand]

Let's get real here. How on earth can the Nation Newspaper be allowed to carry on, and Peace TV be banned ??

Yes, Thailand has accepted CONSISTENCY in the law. Tha Nation Newspaper is, off-course, the English languae mouthpiece of the Chinese-Thai yellowshirts. Look at the staff of the Nation Newspaper, their names might be Thai, but they all look the same as people who work in your local Chinese Take-Away or restaurant. That's because they ARE a bunch of Chinese, or people who have Chinese ancestry.

Yes, Thailand must either ban the Nation Newspaper because the Nation does actually print stories about the junta that are not favourable. Or if it is going to allow freedom of expression for the Yellowshirts, well, they're going to have to give the Thai-Thais freedom of expression as well. The Thai-Thais, that's the dark-skinned and 'eyes are not so slitty' people, that's the people who make up the redshirts.

Yes, telling the redshirts to shut-up criticising the junta, and allowing the yellow-shirts to voice their criticism, that just makes the system look ridiculous. They could tell both to shut-up, but it would never happen. Nothing can stop the real power in Thailand, and the real power are the minority Chinese-Thais who are also called the Bangkok middle-class by some of the newspapers.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that the Shinawatra family is Chinese-Thai with no Thai blood mixed in. Lord Valdemort na Dubai is nearly as 'square-faced' as Jack Ma, the Chinese founder of Alibaba.com.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that 'The Nation' has been publishing long before there was such a thing as PAD (Yellow Shirts)

I guess no one bothered to tell you that PAD or Yellow Shirts no longer exist because, unlike the UDD, no one is funding them.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that the Red Shirt TV was shut down for inciting discontent and not for "criticising the junta".

Your post, and therefore your attitude, is racist and bigoted against the 40% of Thais who have Chinese ancestry. Your 'facts' aren't logical nor are they correct in any way. I don't mind your obvious bias, but please stop posting your hateful views.

.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that PAD or Yellow Shirts no longer exist because, unlike the UDD, no one is funding them.

wow, the unbelievable comments some folks toss out there...

(ps: inciting discontent and criticizing the junta are the same thing... I would have thought that you'd have figured that out by now...)

[webfact]

Redshirt TV Channel Secures Reprieve From Blackout Order
By Khaosod English


Redshirt activists deliver a letter of complaint at the government house in Bangkok protesting the shutdown of Peace TV, 30 April 2015.

BANGKOK – Bangkok's central administrative court has permitted a Redshirt-run television station to return to the air while the court deliberates on whether a stage agency's order to shut down the channel was lawful.

Peace TV’s license was revoked in April by Thailand’s media regulatory board, the National Broadcasting Telecommunication Commission (NBTC). The commission said the some of the channel’s talk shows violated prohibitions on the media passed by the military junta that seized power in May 2014. Under the junta's orders, the media is barred from inciting violence, causing "divisions in the kingdom," or criticizing the junta with "malicious" intention.

In response to the ruling, the operators of Peace TV sued the NBTC in administrative court last month for 15 million baht in damages. The operators - most of whom are Redshirt leaders - also asked the court to issue an injunction for Peace TV to return to the air until a verdict is reached.

The court granted the request today, on the grounds that the NBTC prematurely revoked the license of Peace TV without giving the station 15 days to offer a defense, as is required by NBTC regulations.

"There is no evidence, either in the plaintiff's brief or in the trial, that the NBTC offered Peace TV the opportunity to argue its case and present evidence," the court wrote in its decision, adding that the NBTC’s regulations do not allow for any exceptions to this requirement. Therefore, the NBTC's shutdown order "constitutes a potentially unlawful governmental order," the court said.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1437047188&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2015-07-17

[tonbridgebrit]

Let's get real here. How on earth can the Nation Newspaper be allowed to carry on, and Peace TV be banned ??

Yes, Thailand has accepted CONSISTENCY in the law. Tha Nation Newspaper is, off-course, the English languae mouthpiece of the Chinese-Thai yellowshirts. Look at the staff of the Nation Newspaper, their names might be Thai, but they all look the same as people who work in your local Chinese Take-Away or restaurant. That's because they ARE a bunch of Chinese, or people who have Chinese ancestry.

Yes, Thailand must either ban the Nation Newspaper because the Nation does actually print stories about the junta that are not favourable. Or if it is going to allow freedom of expression for the Yellowshirts, well, they're going to have to give the Thai-Thais freedom of expression as well. The Thai-Thais, that's the dark-skinned and 'eyes are not so slitty' people, that's the people who make up the redshirts.

Yes, telling the redshirts to shut-up criticising the junta, and allowing the yellow-shirts to voice their criticism, that just makes the system look ridiculous. They could tell both to shut-up, but it would never happen. Nothing can stop the real power in Thailand, and the real power are the minority Chinese-Thais who are also called the Bangkok middle-class by some of the newspapers.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that the Shinawatra family is Chinese-Thai with no Thai blood mixed in. Lord Valdemort na Dubai is nearly as 'square-faced' as Jack Ma, the Chinese founder of Alibaba.com.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that 'The Nation' has been publishing long before there was such a thing as PAD (Yellow Shirts)

I guess no one bothered to tell you that PAD or Yellow Shirts no longer exist because, unlike the UDD, no one is funding them.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that the Red Shirt TV was shut down for inciting discontent and not for "criticising the junta".

Your post, and therefore your attitude, is racist and bigoted against the 40% of Thais who have Chinese ancestry. Your 'facts' aren't logical nor are they correct in any way. I don't mind your obvious bias, but please stop posting your hateful views.

.

I guess no one bothered to tell you that the Red Shirt TV was shut down for inciting discontent and not for "criticising the junta".

You have stated facts with the above being my favourite...Not one of them can denounce that. Not one...To reiterate...Not one.

Now get ready for them to reply with their BELIEFS!!!!

Hello, I certainly don't have anything against Chinese people.

Thaksin is Chinese ? Yes, off-course he is. I don't have a problem with a Chinese tycoon who became leader of Thailand. He did it by a vote, and he was accepted by the West and China.

The Nation existed long before the Yellow shirts ? Yes they did, but that doesn't change the point that they constantly cheered on the anti-Thaksinites, and that they supported the Yellow shirts.

The Yellow shirts don't exist ? Well, that's because Thaksin is not taking part in any general election. There isn't going to be an election, anyway. Once we have an election, and if Thaksin is ahead in the polls, or if Thaksin gets back in (okay, a Thaksin proxy party), well, yes, you will once again see a load of people wearing Yellow shirts and bringing Bangkok to a standstill. Yes, that's the problem that Thailand has got. The Yellow shirts can't get enough votes to beat Thaksin, but they've got enough supporters to bring Bangkok to a standstill when the result of any election puts Thaksin in charge. That's why the army has to do a coup. If the army don't do their coup, then Thailand forever becomes a country of elections, Thaksin gets in, and Yellowshirts cause Bangkok to grind to a halt with their demonstrations.

I certainly don't hate the Chinese. I have no problem with the Chinese tourists being in Thailand. I dislike some of the posts by ThaiVisa people who criticise the Chinese tourists, making ridiculous comments about how Thailand would be better off if they removed half of the Chinese tourists. I have no problem with Chinese companies carrying out massive infra-structure projects in Thailand. They've already done such projects in China itself. Note the ridiculous comments from some ThaiVisa people about the 'cheap Chinese crap', I dislike those comments.

I do have a problem with the point that Thailand's 'middle class' is a minority group, they stand to lose some of their benefits if the poorer Thais (a majority group) can elect their leader. Thanks for reading.

[halloween]

I guess no one bothered to tell you that PAD or Yellow Shirts no longer exist because, unlike the UDD, no one is funding them.

wow, the unbelievable comments some folks toss out there...

(ps: inciting discontent and criticizing the junta are the same thing... I would have thought that you'd have figured that out by now...)

Refusal to face inconvenient facts doesn't make them any less credible, no matter how many emoticons you add.

[tonbridgebrit]

Sorry, back to the point of the OP.

Yes, I do have a problem with how a bunch of middle-class Thais are allowed to have their freedom of speech to make negative comments about the junta by using the Nation Newspaper to do it. And, at the same time, a load of Thais who are not middle class, they are a load of rural people or urban poor, well, they're not allowed to have their freedom of speech to make negative comments about the junta.

Why the inconsistency ? Tell them all to shut up, or tell none of them to shut up. One rule, it applies to eveybody, I accept that.

[halloween]

Sorry, back to the point of the OP.

Yes, I do have a problem with how a bunch of middle-class Thais are allowed to have their freedom of speech to make negative comments about the junta by using the Nation Newspaper to do it. And, at the same time, a load of Thais who are not middle class, they are a load of rural people or urban poor, well, they're not allowed to have their freedom of speech to make negative comments about the junta.

Why the inconsistency ? Tell them all to shut up, or tell none of them to shut up. One rule, it applies to eveybody, I accept that.

I have 2 problems with your post. To start with you assume that the levels and manner of criticism found in the Nation is equivalent to that of Peace TV. I very much doubt that.

Secondly, you then assume that the readers, or is it owners/editors, of the Nation are middle class but that those involved with Peace TV are rural people or urban poor. The UDD scum working for that TV station are neither, having grown rich as mercenary propagandists for a criminal billionaire. There is no doubt that those they wish to agitate are rural and urban poor, but they have no input into the broadcasts.

[Ricardo]

So a Thai court allows 'Peace TV' to resume broadcasting, is this an example of courts ruling correctly on the law, or of government-interference in the legal-system as so-often alleged, it's confusing to know what we're supposed to be thinking ?

Whatever, I hope that 'Peace TV' stays within the junta's broadcasting-guidelines this time, and doesn't get shut down again for allegedly causing "divisions and misunderstandings".

Whatever, I hope that the junta lifts all bans on free speech and free assembly and stops arbitrary detentions, arrests, and military trials of civilians, ....

Nah, won't happen...

But we farangs can perhaps hope that there will be progress in the right direction, over time, regarding freedom of speech & censorship & LM & monitoring of the internet & press-freedom.

And not just from the current government, but future ones too, it's a long-term requirement for Thai democracy, something to aim for but which has never yet been achieved.

But short-term rabble-rousing would obviously delay progress, although it might serve the aims of the UDD or a former-PM, wishing to impose their beliefs or control on the wider population.

I don't say "Nah, won't happen.." as you do, I prefer to hope for progress, than give up on any possibility of it.

[mikemac]

So a Thai court allows 'Peace TV' to resume broadcasting, is this an example of courts ruling correctly on the law, or of government-interference in the legal-system as so-often alleged, it's confusing to know what we're supposed to be thinking ?

Whatever, I hope that 'Peace TV' stays within the junta's broadcasting-guidelines this time, and doesn't get shut down again for allegedly causing "divisions and misunderstandings".

.............."to resume broadcasting after it was taken off air for breaking a junta ban on political programming."...................

What could they possibly broadcast that would not be considered to be "political programming" ?

Isaan folk music ? Weather reports ? Gardening hints ?

I doubt it, they are only interested in airing political propaganda, much like their opposition.

[tbthailand]

I guess no one bothered to tell you that PAD or Yellow Shirts no longer exist because, unlike the UDD, no one is funding them.

wow, the unbelievable comments some folks toss out there...

(ps: inciting discontent and criticizing the junta are the same thing... I would have thought that you'd have figured that out by now...)

Refusal to face inconvenient facts doesn't make them any less credible, no matter how many emoticons you add.

that would be true except that you are just lying now...