2 replies to this topic

[Hedda]

"The Thai government announced on 14 May 2009 its plan to regulate the program content of radio stations and cable and satellite TV stations in the country, media reports said.

The "Bangkok Post" quoted Prime Minister's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey as saying the government will ban any program, whether broadcast over community radios or aired over cable and satellite TVs, that are politically "incendiary" and "offensive", whether coming from the anti-government red shirt or anti-Thaksin yellow shirt groups. . .

The proposed regulations will require community radio stations, and cable TV and satellite TV channels to seek permission for each programme being aired, Sathit said. ''Once the regulations take effect, any broadcast station airing content deemed to be politically incendiary won't be allowed to operate,'' he said.

Thai sources who requested anonymity said these tasks are beyond the NTC's mandate. However, in the absence of a body that would perform said duties, the commission might end up in charge implementing these regulations. Other sources described these proposed regulations as out-and-out censorship, depriving the audience of access to information."

http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/1213
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With that Oxford accent, he sounds like Churchill defending free speech, but he behaves like Juan Peron closing down La Prensa. There are two explanations of why he appears to be so hypocritical: (1) He is simply saying anything to appear to the outside world to be a democrat or (2) he has no control over most of his government, especially the army, police and bureaucracy. It could also be a bad combination of both. Regardless, Pm Opposite may well be setting the stage for the de fact dismantling of what remains of this country's elective democracy. When you know you can't win elections, you make sure you don't have any.
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[Garcia]

With that Oxford accent, he sounds like Churchill defending free speech, but he behaves like Juan Peron closing down La Prensa.

I think he just proved your point:

"Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Saturday warned The Red News, which is a new newspaper of the red-shirt movement, not to distort information to instigate rifts and violence. Abhisit said anyone or any group can use its media as long as it will not break the law.He said if the newspaper presents distorted information, it will create damages to the country and violate the law.

The prime minister said the government did not harm the people but simply wanted to return the country to normality following the Songkran riots so the red-shirt movement should not try to use the issue to instigate more rifts."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...tigate-violence

[Hedda]

Here's more classic Opposite Abhisit at his best, talking both sides of the same issue at the same time:

"Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says he would like to host a television programme in the role of a legal analyst looking at the news after he retires from politics. . . The premier said he aspired to seeing this type of program on Thai television.

He also promised to ensure that government officials do not restrict the right of the media on presenting news, saying the media was a mirror that reflected how the government was. This right however did not include provocation of the masses such as political demonstrations that allowed the use of weapons, said Mr. Abhisit.

The prime minister said a law for protection of the media was unlikely to come into place anytime soon, but initiation was needed and parliament would discuss this law."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/14...fter-retirement