Wednesday, September 20 2006, 18:23 BST - by JamesWelshCNN
BBC World and other international broadcastershave been taken off the air in Thailand during amilitary coup d'état.
The coup gripping Bangkok began on Monday while theThai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was at theUnited Nations in New York City. Before becoming the country's premier, Thaksin wasinvolved in the country's media market and hadpurchased the iTV television channel.
During Thaksin'stenure, there were claims that he stifled criticalcomment on his administration; several journalists atiTV complained that they had been pressured todownplay stories that would reflect negatively onThaksin and his "Thais Love Thais" political party. The whistle-blowers later won a court case against thechannel after losing their jobs. Currently, all domestic TV in Thailand is airingimages of the Thai royal family accompanied bypatriotic songs.
In a televised address, GeneralSonthi Boonyaratglin, leader of the country's army,declared martial law. There are also reports thatsoldiers have been stationed outside media-relatedoffices."This has grave implications for press freedom anddemocracy in Thailand," said International Federationof Journalists president Christopher Warren. "The leaders of this coup must understand that nowmore than ever the people of Thailand are depending onthe media for information," he continued. "The coupleaders must show a commitment to freedom of the pressand to immediately allow journalists and the publicfull access to events as they unfold and to restorelocal access to international news channels."A free and independent media is crucial to reaching apeaceful resolution to the current situation."
(Source: Jaisakthivel, Chennai, India/Cumbre DX)
