Ict Imposes Temporary Ban On Political Postings On Forums, Sms

[george]

Thailand clamps down on media after coup

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's coup leaders barred electronic media on Thursday from disseminating news and comments they deemed a threat to national security and the monarchy.

The Information Ministry summoned radio, television and Internet operators to "seek cooperation" in enforcing the order "to restrict, control, stop or destroy information deemed to affect the constitutional monarchy".

"We seek their cooperation not to present articles, remarks, or information that will infringe the democratic reform under the constitutional monarchy," chief Internet inspector Kritpong Rimcharonepak told reporters after the meeting.

"They can still present political comments on their media, but if anything goes wrong, the caretakers of those media must take responsibility," he said.

Kritpong said the order would take effect on Friday and included a ban on live interviews on radio and television, phone-in comments and scrolling messages on television from mobile phones.

Outlets could be closed if they broke the rules, he said.

--Reuters 2006-09-21

ICT imposes temporary ban on political text-messaging and phone-in

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology sought cooperation from broadcasters to temporarily stop activities of political expression via short-messaging or phone-in.

However, posting information or views on web-board is permitted provided that internet service providers ensure against offensive content.

Permanent Secretary for ICT Kraisorn Pornsuthee invited representatives of the broadcast media, telecoms and internet service providers to a meeting Thursday to discuss the censorship edict issued by the Council of Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy. (CDRM)

At the meeting, Mr Kraisorn appealed to broadcasters to suspend interactive activities in which audiences are invited to send short messages (SMS) or phone-in live programmes to express opinion or comment on politics, as these activities may cause division.

Broadcast media were also asked to refrain from making inappropriate reference to “revered institution.” The broadcasters were asked to stop holding popularity vote of any kind via SMS for the time being.

However, emergency alert telephone calls as carried in various traffic radio shows, or interviews in subjects not related to politics are allowed.

He urged internet service providers to guard against offensive content, as providers and authors of any offensive messages will be held responsible for their actions.

News service via SMS is allowed to operate as usual.

The ICT Ministry’s web site www.mict.go.th will serve as an authoritative source of information relating to the CDRM.

--TNA 2006-09-21

Council wants clamps on information, media

BANGKOK: -- The Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) yesterday issued an announcement ordering the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry to control the distribution of all information media deemed harmful to the provisional military council now in control of the country. It said the ministry must control, stop, block and destroy any information in the form of articles, statements, wording of any sort, that are published and sent through any media that would be harmful to democratic reform.

However, a source at the ICT Ministry said that so far it had not blocked any website known to support the former regime, adding that some had already shut themselves down temporarily.

--TNA 2006-09-21

NOTE TO OUR MEMBERS:

All media was today ordered by ICT to exercise censorship of any news critical of the coup-makers and the new military regime. Offenders face up to six months in jail, a fine of up to Bt10,000, or both.

This also prohibit Thaivisa to publish such content. We kindly ask our members to refrain from posting sensitive political content. We reserve the rights to delete content that could be dangerous for the operation of our website. We have to do a bit of self-censorship here so we don't get into trouble. Thanks for your understanding.

/Admin

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