NBC to consider actions against Spring News and Voice TV on Monday

 

BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is to meet on Monday to consider actions against two digital TV stations – Spring News and Voice TV – for their two programmes whose contents are alleged to be inappropriate and may go against the laws.

Spring News’ Face Time programme on July 20 between 8.13 pm-8.53 pm which featured an interview with social critic Sulak Sivaraksa regarding a university student who refused to prostrate in an oath-taking ceremony was alleged to carry inappropriate content which may violate Section 37 of the broadcasting act.

Meanwhile, Voice TV’s Tonight Thailand programme aired on May 25 might defy orders 93/2557 and 103/2557 of the National Council for Peace and Order.

A member of the NBC, Ms Supinya Klangnarong, said that Spring News had already applied self-censorship prior to investigation by the NBC following complaints against the programme in question. This, she noted, was a clear indication that the Thai media was caught in an atmosphere of fear and Spring News had taken the initiative to pull the plug on the programme and change the moderator of the programme.

Ms Supinya said although she did not fully agree with what Mr Sulak had said but she noted that the critic’s statements were just the expression of an intellectual who wanted to create a culture of criticism.

Personally, she did find any parts of the interview with Mr Sulak illegal, said Ms Supinya, adding that she didn’t think Section 37 was necessary in this case because it would reinforce the notion that the media is under an atmosphere of fear.

As for the case with Voice TV operated by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, it was proposed that the TV station should be given a warning for the questionable programme on May 25.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/174423-2/

-- Thai PBS 2016-08-01

 

create a culture of criticism

Normally an integral aspect of democracy.

Criticism is critical in order to have correct and true knowledge.  Without it, this forum would not exist.  That's why there is no critical thinking here.  A brain turns dull without it