It has taken a long time but two journalists’ associations have finally called out the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.
The Thai Journalists Association and Thai Broadcasting Journalists’ Association have opposed the NBTC’s decision to shut down Peace TV for one month.So far so good, but then it all unravels for the associations and their apparent support of media freedom.
Of course, this isn’t the first time the station, associated with the official red shirts, has been closed by the junta’s NBTC, and the associations have been very reluctant to speak out.
This time, the NBTC revoked Peace TV’s license for “content of some programmes on air between March 26 and April 9 deemed inciting conflicts by the telecom regulator.” In making the decision, the junta’s lapdog regulator mentioned its boss’s Orders.
Nothing new in any of that as far as we can tell.
But finally recognizing the obvious, the two press associations “said the reference to the junta’s two orders to take action against Peace TV had jeopardised the NBTC’s credibility and showed that it had allowed outside influence to compromise its independence.”
“Jeopardized”? Really? The NBTC’s credibility was shot, trampled on and buried years ago.
The associations “also said the temporary closure was in violation of press freedom protected under the constitution.”
Well, yes, but it is the junta’s constitution and the junta can do anything it wants.
Then the associations supported violations of press freedom by suggesting that “[i]nstead of closing the station, the NBTC should selectively ban the programmes in question…”.
It seems the associations favor selective media freedom.
Political Prisoners in Thailand 