Thailand launches crackdown on "illegal" community radio stations

May 18, 2007, 8:31 GMT

Bangkok - Thailand on Friday launched a crackdown on the country's plethora of illegal community radio stations days after exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra used one of the stations to air his political grievances.

'We will be listening to these illegal radio stations to see whether they are attacking the government and if they do we will send authorities to shut them down,' said Borworn Thecha-in, director of the radio and television division at the Public Relations Department (PRD).

Borworn said Thailand had more than 1,000 small radio stations that have operating in a legal limbo for years, pending legislation to cover the media sector.

'In the past we've ignored them, partly because they are so difficult to monitor,' said Borworn. 'Sometimes these stations just play music all day.'

On Thursday, the PRD closed down the FM 87.75 station after it aired a live interview with Thaksin from his home in London in which the ousted premier called for speedy elections in Thailand and criticized the current government for not solving the country's problems.

The station has been charged with operating without a license, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail and/or a 100,000 baht (2,857 dollars) fine.

'We were acting on a complaint,' said Borworn, explaining the closure of FM 87.75.

Thailand has been under an 'appointed' government since the military overthrew Thaksin in a bloodless coup on September 19, 2006, while he was attending the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.

Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon whose family fortune is estimated at 3 billion dollars, has been living in exile since the coup, but he continues to be a thorn in the thigh of the current appointed government.

Thai authorities attempted to block the airing of an interview Thaksin had with CNN on March 20 and was irked by another Thaksin interview that appeared the same month in Time Magazine.

Thaksin's foray into Thailand's community radio stations on Wednesday was his first interview with the vernacular media since his fall from power.

A video version of the interview was also posted on the popular YouTube.Com, which irked the government last month with its airing of images deemed insulting to Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Access to the website has since been blocked for Thai users.

Thai authorities, however, have not yet attacked YouTube.Com for posting the Thaksin footage.

'Lese majeste is a sensitive issue for our country, but if it is just about politics we won't intervene,' said Information Communciations and Technology Ministry spokesman Visanu Meeyoo.

Thai Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said Friday that Thaksin's latest publicity effort was in response to the escalating problems he faces in the country.

Thaksin's family has been charged with tax evasion and abuse of power and similar charges are pending against the former premier.

It is also likely that his Thai Rak Thai political party will be dissolved by a constitutional tribunal on May 30 for committing fraud during the April 2, 2006, general election.