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Trin Tantsetthi

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May 9, 1992, 12:02:26 PM5/9/92
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BBS: Post Database Interactive BBS
Date: 05-09-92 (00:39) Number: 2282
From: KAMOL HENGKIETISAK Refer#: NONE
To: TRIN TANTSETTHI Recvd: NO
Subj: Thai 2 Conf: (0) General
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FOREIGN television news organisations have been barred from
transmitting via satellite footage of Thursday night's protest rally
against non-elected Prime Minister Suchinda Kraprayoon.
The London-based Visnews and Japanese TV Asahi were refused satellite
transmission by Channel 7, which normally provides the commercial
service.
Suwat Pichaikul, who operates Channel 7's satellite service, pleaded
for understanding, saying the station could not risk the consequences.
"It's the same with every channel. We have to remain neutral and not
be manipulated," he said.
Channel 9, which has a cooperation agreement with the Tokyo-based
NHK, asked to censor their coverage of the protests.
Mangkorn Boonchuen, director of the country's sole commercial
satellite centre in Si Racha, issued a letter on Thursday saying "the
current situation may not be normal" and each channel must exercise
good judgment in deciding if any particular footage is proper for
overseas transmission.
The letter was circulated to all local television channels.
The Channel 7 officer said: "Who will bear the consequences on our
behalf in case the footage we let out backfires? Please understand our
position."
A CNN spokesman in Atlanta told the Associated Press that its Bangkok
correspondent informed them on Thursday night the Thai Government has
stopped all satellite feeds from news organisations in the country.
CNN is continuing to cover events in Thailand through telephone
reports, said Sven Harhoss.
Local television channels have given minimal coverage -- if any at
all -- of the huge protest in Sanam Luang.
From the moment the demonstrations began, the channels have been
strongly criticised for their distorted news presentation.
News teams from various channels have begun to feel the heat.
Fearing public repercussions, Channel 7 news teams covering the rally
at Sanam Luang on Thursday night removed the Channel 7 stickers on
their cars.
A Channel 3 news team said protesters came close to wrecking the
team's car at Parliament on Thursday.
Protesters were angry the events which the channels covered were not
being aired on television.
The news teams said they tried to explain to the people they had come
because that was their job -- they had no control over policy at their
respective stations.
A car belonging to Channel 5, a station closely identified with the
military, was vandalised in front of Parliament on Wednesday.
A group of representatives of non-governmental organisations --
Foundation of Volunteers for Society, EM Power, Women's Friend
Foundation, Centre of Media for Development, Association for
Appropriate Technologies and Committee for Dissemination of Development
Work -- went to Channel 5 and Channel 7 where they laid wreaths to
protest against them for not performing their duty as state-run mass
media and for not having professional etiquette.
Deputy Army Chief Gen Viroj Saengsanit invited directors of all
television stations to a meeting and asked them to be careful in
presenting news coverage of the events.
Meanwhile, Thammasat University's radio station abandoned plans to
broadcast news about the protests because its frequency belongs to the
Public Relations Department.
The university's faculty council had decided on Thursday night to air
news of the pro-democracy rally despite the news blackout on
state-controlled radio and television.
But a Thammasat radio official said the station would only air
regular programmes because the station is for education only.
***** THE military takes the view that the protests are not "too
worrying" at the moment and soldiers are still confined to their
positions, Deputy Air Force Commander-in-Chief ACM Suthep Theppharak
said.
He said the demonstrators would be allowed to continue their
protests. He did not think the situation would get violent.
Asked what the military would do now that the protesters have ignored
the warning to disperse, he said it was just a warning -- they could
turn to other political avenues.
Asked if the military had a time limit on when it would take action
to break up the rally, he replied that if the rally was not too large
there should be no problem and there would be no additional security
measures needed.
He said he did not know about the academics' call for a dissolution
of the House; reporters would have to ask the Prime Minister.
He also declined to say whether or not the Premier should resign.
He said: "In any case with the situation as it is at present, the
Government has not yet reached a dead end."
*******
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