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State of emergency in Bangkok being lifted |
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by Usa Pichai
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Friday, 24 April 2009 12:04 |
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – The government of Thailand will lift the state of emergency in Bangkok on Friday, even as the authorities maintain restrictions on political content on websites of private-run cable TV and community radio stations.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told Parliament on Friday that lifting the state of emergency is part of the measures to find a solution to the problems plaguing the country. “The government wants to show its sincerity, that it wants reconciliation after the violent street protests. We want the country to move forward," he added.
Thai premier declared emergency on April 12 when anti-government groups or so-called red shirted protesters unleashed riots in Bangkok by blocking all access to the Victory Monument and instigated violence in several spots in Bangkok.
Recently, Thailand’s Minister of Interior, Chawarat Chanweerakul ordered local authorities to increase surveillance on community radio stations and cable TV which may broadcast content which is critical of the royal family or may incite people, leading to disorder in the country.
“In case the local media does not cooperate with the authorities officials should use the appropriate law to halt their operation,” he added.
On Thursday, governors in several provinces asked local media operators to cooperate. The Thailand Cable TV Association released a statement warning its members to be neutral while reporting.
“The programme operators should be careful that the content that is broadcast on the local channel should be aimed at preventing more political divide in society or violate the law,” the group said.
Since the recent riots by anti-government protesters in Bangkok, in provinces nearby and at the Asean Summit venue in Chon Buri province early this month, Thai authorities have blocked several websites including D-station, a radio station of the red shirt group.
Thai Netizen Network, a coalition of net users in Thailand said in a statement that currently more than 60 websites that offer viewpoints that differ from those in power have been blocked after the violence. The group urged the Thai government to stop censorship of the internet, community radio and TV channels.
“Internet censorship infringes upon the basic right and freedom in accessing information and expression of citizens pursuant to the Constitution. It also violates the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” the group pointed out in its statement.
In addition, the group also noted that blocking people's access to information and expression of views that differ from those in power will force those who nurse differing views underground. Rumors will also spread causing further confusion among the public. The inevitable result will be increased political pressures, conflicts, and tensions. The government's measures therefore contradicts its policy of "building political reconciliation" in society, which the government announced in Parliament and in public in the early days of the administration.
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