(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a joint press release by ARTICLE 19 and Forum-Asia: THAI OFFICIALS SEIZE COMMUNITY RADIO STATION EQUIPMENT CONTRADICTING PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT RESOLVE FOR DIALOG WITH COMMUNITY RADIO FEDERATION FORUM-ASIA and ARTICLE 19 strongly denounce the confiscation of broadcasting equipment of the Angthong community radio station. This is wholly inconsistent with the […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a joint press release by ARTICLE 19 and Forum-Asia:
THAI OFFICIALS SEIZE COMMUNITY RADIO STATION EQUIPMENT CONTRADICTING PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT RESOLVE FOR DIALOG WITH COMMUNITY RADIO FEDERATION
FORUM-ASIA and ARTICLE 19 strongly denounce the confiscation of broadcasting equipment of the Angthong community radio station. This is wholly inconsistent with the Cabinet Resolution taken in August this year ordering that community broadcasters should be allowed to continue to operate while the conflict over their legal status is being resolved. We support the Community Radio Federation of Thailand’s request for government clarification on this important issue.
On October 31, 2002 The Nation newspaper reported that officials from the Department of Post and Telegraph shut down Angthong community radio station on charges of illegal broadcasting. Angthong community radio station has been operated since May 18 by Chaiyo district villagers, and was established with the financial support of the government’s Social Investment Fund (SIF).
FORUM-ASIA and ARTICLE 19 are concerned that despite constitutional guarantees, those officials responsible for actions such as the Angthong seizure fail to recognize the importance of community broadcasting and that their actions undermine communities’ right to fair access to public frequencies.
FORUM-ASIA and ARTICLE 19 wish to reiterate that broadcasting frequencies are a public resource, as guaranteed by both the Constitution of Thailand and international law. Article 40 of the Constitution defines broadcasting frequencies as “national communication resources for public interest” and requires that they should be allocated with “utmost public benefit at national and local levels”. This implies that an equitable share of the frequencies should go to community broadcasters.
“If the government claims it is not its policy to shut down stations such as the one at Angthong, then it should keep its officials in line with the policy,” said Supinya Klangnarong of the Campaign for Popular Media Reform.
“The legal implementation of DPT’s policy is suspicious and involves ‘double standards’,” said Supinya. “If it has a policy of strictly implementing the law, it should also shut down the Channel 7 TV station and other broadcasting companies that have recently renegotiated their contracts, as the law bans all renegotiated contracts before the establishment of a National Broadcasting Commission.”
Wichian Kuttawat, a Community Radio Federation secretary, said he was confused by the DPT move. He said the DPT had a representative on the special committee established by the PM’s Office to establish the best solution concerning the legality of community radio, and the official who led the police team, represented the DPT.
“He’s supposed to know best about government policy. Why did he act against it?” Wichian asked. When Wichian sought official clarification later, the official explained that he was pressured to take such action and would be charged with neglect of duty if he did not do so.
The Information and Communications Technology Ministry has agreed to listen to the Federation’s concerns and proposals and will set up a committee to continue discussions with the Federation.
FORUM-ASIA and ARTICLE 19 urge that all dialog between the government and the Federation should continue with a commitment to resolve the issues based on the recognition of the constitutional platform of the community radio broadcasters. In this light, we welcome the recent establishment of the Community Radio Federation of Thailand and support its efforts to promote the right of communities to access the airwaves. We urge all the relevant government agencies to respect the constitutional guarantee of community broadcasting and to carry out government policy in a coordinated, concerted and transparent manner.
