The Coup and the Media: TV Censorship and Print Freedom

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 005837 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS; EAP/PD; EAP/P SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO PHUM TH SUBJECT: The Coup and the Media: TV Censorship and Print Freedom ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Thai army troops continue to occupy almost all Thai TV network studios, and are monitoring their broadcasts. Thailand's major cable network has stopped blacking out broadcasts from CNN and BBC whenever Thaksin's name is mentioned or image shown. Commercial radio stations are operating, although provincial community radio stations have closed. Newspapers report no interference. At least one political web board was shut, but is back up and includes some mildly critical postings. End summary. TV: Armed Troops in Studios ¶2. (SBU) During the night of the coup, all Thai free-to-air broadcast stations aired the same feed from army-owned and operated Channel 5, but by mid-morning the next day they had returned to "regular" programming, mostly light entertainment and informational shows. Newscasts continue to air at their regularly scheduled times and reports include factual - positive - news of the coup. News commentary, never a very large segment of Thai TV programming, has largely ceased. The exception is the all-news-format Nation Channel. ¶3. (SBU) Embassy staff visited various TV stations. At ITV, the network owned by Thaksin before he sold it to Temasek, armed soldiers lined the front gate, front door, and newsroom. A huge truck and armored vehicle were parked near the entrance, with more vehicles at the exit. ITV reporters and anchors said the military asked them not to broadcast material that might have a "negative impact" or "cause any resistance or disturbance." They are not editing or reviewing material, although they are watching the broadcasts. ITV staff acknowledged that, at least initially, they felt the soldiers' presence had an "oppressive" effect on their work. Likewise, the privately owned satellite Nation Channel has a significant military presence, with armed guards and trucks at the gate and five soldiers with rifles (with the clips out) outside and inside the newsroom. ¶4. (SBU) Adisak Limprungpatanakij, president of the Nation Broadcasting Corporation and avidly anti-Thaksin, cited a live interview they aired with anti-coup content to make his point that the coup has not affected press freedom. He said he believed the military commander, who told him the troops were to provide security to the Nation Channel and assist in linking to Channel 5 pool coverage. Nation Channel staff happily keep the soldiers well-fed during their stay. ¶5. (SBU) In contrast, the entertainment-oriented Channel 3 has only a few soldiers guarding the entrance and news building, with no trucks or equipment. A Channel 3 producer said the military has requested that the station not air negative comments about the CDRM. ¶6. (SBU) Notably, there is no troop presence whatsoever at ASTV, the free satellite TV network owned by anti-Thaksin campaigner Sondhi. On coup night, no one asked them to air the Channel 5 pool coverage, although they did so voluntarily when a statement was expected. ASTV continues to broadcast without interference. ¶7. (SBU) CNN, BBC and MSNBC are now broadcasting normally. For two days after the coup, pictures of or interviews about Thaksin triggered an interruption with still pictures of movie stars. For example, UBC cut a BBC interview with Pasook Pongpaijit, an academic mildly critical of the coup, and a CNN interview with Paul Handley, author of a book critical of the King. The Night of the Coup: All Army Pool -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Reporters offered insight into media events the night of the coup, as well. State-owned MCOT Channel 9 reporters said they aired Prime Minister Thaksin's emergency statement only after ITV refused. After Thaksin had been on the air for a couple of minutes, armed army personnel burst into the Channel 9 studio, asked where the Control Room was, and demanded that the technicians cut off the broadcast. The screen went blank for a few minutes, and then Channel 9 began running the Channel 5 stock footage paying homage to the King. CNN interviewed Deputy Prime Minister Surakiat in New York shortly after that, and a few minutes later UBC, the MCOT-owned cable operator, cut transmission of CNN, MSNBC, and BBC. Print media: Freer post-Coup? -------------- ¶9. (SBU) PA visits to print media revealed no overt censorship or intimidation. Thai Rath and Bangkok Post newsrooms were operating normally. Pana Janviroj, president of the Nation Multimedia Group, said no troops have entered the Nation newsroom or its Thai-language sister papers: Kom Chad Luek and Krungthep Turakit. When asked about self-censorship, Pana said, "We sympathize with the CDRM, so there is (no need for) self-censorship." A Thai Rat reporter claimed he felt freer to report than before the coup. Bangkok Post reporters said that, although the CDRM had issued a statement asking for the media's cooperation in reporting news, they had seen no evidence of pressure to influence the print media. Radio: Large Stations Open, Community Radio Closed -------------- -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Large-scale commercial radio stations continue to operate in Bangkok. One well-known radio personality noted on air that, in contrast to past coups, no one tried to review or censor broadcasts. However, community radio stations have been temporarily banned in the provinces; local military officials have said this is because these stations are difficult to monitor and control. Web: Content to be Monitored, Some Critical Postings -------------- -------------- ¶11. (SBU) According to news posted on a popular web board, Hansa.com, the Council for Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) called in all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to try to control website content, under threat of closure. Thus far, the CDRM has not closed any website completely. The CNN and BBC websites continue to function normally. All of the major Thai chat sites have announcements posted that the country is under Martial Law and postings should be "careful and constructive". The "Politics Board" of Pantip.com was shut down yesterday following an influx of strong anti-coup messages. The board is back up, and even now, roughly half of the messages are mildly critical of the coup, although opinions are expressed in a sarcastic way. Messages include -- I want a PM from an election, not from a gun barrel. -- What will happen to the economy? I bought a lot of shares!! -- How can we go on group tours if they won't let us gather more than 5 people? -- How long will it take for Thais to forget all about this? One answer: 48 hours or less! Thais forget fast. -- Tanks are drifting to Bangkok! Can they be ticketed for turning without signaling? ¶12. (SBU) Comment: Post has made our views about the importance of press freedom clear to General Sonthi and other coup members. Their response has been to reiterate that there is "no censorship" while acknowledging that some news cutouts are occurring. End comment. BOYCE