Media freedom in Thailand takes a blow
The evil empire (The Samak government, not Microsoft) continued to chip away at media freedom in Thailand yesterday by transferring Pramote Rathavinit from his post as Director-General of the Public Relations Department to an inactive post at the Prime Minister’s Office.
This comes in the wake of the transfer of Department of Special Investigation Director-General Sunai Manomai-udom, Food and Drug Administration Secretary-General Dr Siriwat Thiptharadol and today’s removal of Police Chief Seripisut Temiyavej all to inactive posts.
The PRD controls a television station channel 11, numerous radio stations and, more importantly, in the absence of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, is the regulator for all broadcast media in the country, thus paving the way for more restrictive conditions to be put in place.
Upon taking office as Prime Minister’s Office Minister (which is responsible for the PRD), former TRT spokesperson Jakrapob Penkair said he would have to “sort out” the local media.
