Thailand: military authorities force TV reporter off air for critical reporting of the ruling junta
Event- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Nov 14, 2014
- Event Description
Thailand's Public Broadcasting Service, Thai PBS, reportedly removed the host of a programme which allowed people to voice opinions on the junta's reform plans after junta representatives met with the channel's executives, Isara News Agency reported on Friday 14th November. Isara News Agency reported that five high ranking military officers met with the channel's executives at the TV station's headquarters. The officers said their supervisors urged the Thai PBS to stop broadcasting the programme called "Voices of the People that must be heard before the Reform" because they were upset with how Nattaya Wawweerakhup, the programme host, asked questions of villagers and activists, some of which allegedly touched on the coup d'_tat. The episode which led to the junta's censorship was on the southern people's thoughts on reform, which was taped at Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. The episode was aired on 8 November. After the meeting, the Thai PBS executives ruled to remove Nattaya from the programme. They also changed the programme from talks with villagers and activists to merely reporting news from the area. Nattaya has confirmed via Facebook with Isara News Agency that she was removed from the programme.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Censorship
- Intimidation and Threats
- Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: 13.7278956
Longitude: 100.5241235
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On the 14th November 2014, TV reporter Nattaya Wawweerakup was removed from hosting a programme that allowed people to express opinions about the junta's reform plans after military officials met with the channel's executives. According to sources the military was unhappy with the way that Nattaya asked questions to activists and villagers that touched on the recent coup d'etat. The programme was then changed from talks with villagers and activists to merely reporting news from the area.