Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has voiced concern about censorship in Thailand after the overnight coup. ”It would be deplorable if a bloodless coup led to a return of censorship,” the Paris-based group said after the ouster of Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister. ”The military government must lose no time in guaranteeing the restoration of basic freedoms, especially complete press freedom.”
The military seized control of TV stations during the coup and broadcast footage of the royal family and patriotic songs through the night. A military spokesman later ordered the information ministry to “control and censor all information” hostile to the new government, said RSF. The press freedom group warned that “the confiscation of liberties must not be the response to the previous government’s failures. The Thai news media, which had a rough ride in recent years, must now recover their independence.”
The main Thai and English-language newspapers were published as normal Wednesday, but the broadcasting of international stations such as CNN and BBC was suspended on Thai cable services. ”The military apparently fear that the deposed prime minister… could launch an appeal to his supporters,” said the group.
(Source: AFP/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)