A political talk show known for its forthright criticism of the government was axed by Channel 9 television yesterday, effective immediately. The programme, Muang Thai Rai Sapda (Thailand Weekly), was produced by Thai Day.Com Co and hosted by Manager newspaper founder Sondhi Limthongkul and news commentator Sarocha Porn-udomsak.
It had been broadcast live every Friday from 10pm-11pm since July 2, 2003.
Mr Sondhi said the decision was politically motivated.
MCOT Plc, which owns the channel, said Mr Sondhi had made several one-sided attacks on people who had no chance of countering his accusations and later took the matter to court.
''The company had warned Mr Sondhi several times, verbally and in writing, to exercise caution in doing his job and to adhere to the basic journalistic principle of not violating the rights and freedom of others,'' MCOT said.
In the Sept 9 programme, Mr Sondhi said the appointment of the interim Supreme Patriarch infringed on a royal prerogative and read out an article titled Por Khong Paen Din (Father of the Land), by an anonymous writer.
Part of it referred to the monarchy in a way that might cause public misunderstanding, MCOT said.
The company said it did not feel right about the programme so MCOT board chairman Rewat Chamchalerm and president Mingkwan Sangsuwan went to see His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary Asa Sarasin on Sept 13.
''At the meeting, we were told that His Majesty and the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary had no involvement and did not give Mr Sondhi or any other person permission to cite, or make references to the monarchy, directly or indirectly,'' the statement said.
It said MCOT respected press freedom but believed that freedom must be exercised with responsibility.
Thongthong Chandarangsu, a director on the MCOT board, denied the government had pulled strings behind the decision to end the company's contract with Thai Day.Com Co. Pulling Mr Sondhi's programme off the air was to protect the monarchy, not the government.
Thai Day.Com could still make programmes for Modernine TV but the content must not affect the monarchy.
Mr Sondhi accused MCOT Plc of siding with the government and insisted the removal of his programme was politically motivated.
Handing out yellow T-shirts carrying the slogan ''We Will Fight for the King'' at a press conference yesterday, Mr Sondhi said he would still tell the public what he thought of the government through other media.
''I cannot stop saying the truth or tone down my comments so I can still show my face on TV. If they want me off, that is fine with me,'' Mr Sondhi said.
''Freedom of speech was not protected after the privatisation of the Mass Communication Organisation of Thailand. MCOT Plc is just the government's puppet,'' he said.
Mr Sondhi said he worships the King and everything he said on the show was to honour him and his powers.
Mr Sondhi denied MCOT's claim that he had faced several defamation suits, saying he was taken to court only once by former national police chief Pol Gen Sant Sarutanont. He was finally cleared by the court.
Mr Sondhi also denied saying that the appointment of Somdet Phra Phuthajarn by the government as interim Supreme Patriarch was a violation of a royal prerogative. He had only questioned why the Supreme Patriarch was relieved of his duty even though he could still do his job.
Source : Bangkok Post
Comment: Toxin will use just about any excuse nowdays ... watch out HHAD will be next.
Thaksin axes political talk show
And that coming hard on the heels of the hostile takeover bid for The Bangkok Post and its subsiduries by, I forget the name, but the biggest entertainment company in Thailand. This company owns radio stations etc etc.
Just so turns out that the head honcho of said corporation was a major player in Thaksin's bid to take over Liverpool FC. Are they friends or what? It also seems that Siam Commercial Bank were heavily involved in fronting some of these commercial moves a while ago and it was Thaksin and Co that bailed them out of bankrupcy a few years ago. SCB are now involved in the BKK Post takeover.
It is certainly of great concern that "freedom of speech" seems to be being eroded in this country.
International watchdogs are monitoring the situation, but up until now have simply been toothless wonders.
Nepotism and cronyism rule OK.
Just so turns out that the head honcho of said corporation was a major player in Thaksin's bid to take over Liverpool FC. Are they friends or what? It also seems that Siam Commercial Bank were heavily involved in fronting some of these commercial moves a while ago and it was Thaksin and Co that bailed them out of bankrupcy a few years ago. SCB are now involved in the BKK Post takeover.
It is certainly of great concern that "freedom of speech" seems to be being eroded in this country.
International watchdogs are monitoring the situation, but up until now have simply been toothless wonders.
Nepotism and cronyism rule OK.
The Fuhrer is taking over
The Fuhrer is at it again:
PM sues talk show hosts for slander
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is suing political talk show hosts Sondhi Limthongkul and Sarocha Porn-udomsak and their employer for 500 million baht for allegedly accusing him of negligence and disloyalty to His Majesty the King. The prime minister filed a lawsuit on Friday with the Civil Court against Muang Thai Rai Sapda (Thailand Weekly) talk show producer Thaiday Dot Com Co, Mr Sondhi and Ms Sarocha.
The filing of the suit was disclosed by Thana Benjathikul, lawyer for Mr Thaksin's younger sister Yaowaret Shinawatra.
Mr Thana said Mr Thaksin also filed a separate criminal lawsuit on the same day against Mr Sondhi and Ms Sarocha on charges of defamation by broadcasting and of insulting an official during the Sept 9 edition of their Channel 9 talk show.
According to the criminal lawsuit, Mr Sondhi and Ms Sarocha had insulted and wrongly accused Mr Thaksin several times of being disloyal to the monarch and of neglecting to end a controversy over the position of Supreme Patriarch.
The lawsuit says both had insulted and made false accusations against Mr Thaksin which could cause the audience to doubt his loyalty to the King.
Mr Sondhi was quoted in the suit as saying:
``He said he was loyal [to the King], but sometimes did things carelessly. This makes us doubt he is really loyal. This is an example...
``Why didn't the government scrap the position of the person acting on behalf of the Supreme Patriarch? Has he put this on hold because he wants Somdej Phra Buddhajarn of Wat Saket to be the next Supreme Patriarch? Now, we have two Supreme Patriarchs. I want to tell the prime minister that loyalty is a very good thing, but he should take action instead of sitting on his hands.''
The hosts cited an article, which apparently referred to the King as the father and the prime minister as the eldest son. The father had more than 60 million children, always loved them and taught them to be honest and hardworking. The eldest son was stubborn and arrogant, wanted to compete with the father.
The Criminal Court accepted the lawsuit for consideration and set Dec 26 this year for the first hearing. The Civil Court scheduled March 13 next year for its first hearing.
Source: Bangkok Post.
PM sues talk show hosts for slander
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is suing political talk show hosts Sondhi Limthongkul and Sarocha Porn-udomsak and their employer for 500 million baht for allegedly accusing him of negligence and disloyalty to His Majesty the King. The prime minister filed a lawsuit on Friday with the Civil Court against Muang Thai Rai Sapda (Thailand Weekly) talk show producer Thaiday Dot Com Co, Mr Sondhi and Ms Sarocha.
The filing of the suit was disclosed by Thana Benjathikul, lawyer for Mr Thaksin's younger sister Yaowaret Shinawatra.
Mr Thana said Mr Thaksin also filed a separate criminal lawsuit on the same day against Mr Sondhi and Ms Sarocha on charges of defamation by broadcasting and of insulting an official during the Sept 9 edition of their Channel 9 talk show.
According to the criminal lawsuit, Mr Sondhi and Ms Sarocha had insulted and wrongly accused Mr Thaksin several times of being disloyal to the monarch and of neglecting to end a controversy over the position of Supreme Patriarch.
The lawsuit says both had insulted and made false accusations against Mr Thaksin which could cause the audience to doubt his loyalty to the King.
Mr Sondhi was quoted in the suit as saying:
``He said he was loyal [to the King], but sometimes did things carelessly. This makes us doubt he is really loyal. This is an example...
``Why didn't the government scrap the position of the person acting on behalf of the Supreme Patriarch? Has he put this on hold because he wants Somdej Phra Buddhajarn of Wat Saket to be the next Supreme Patriarch? Now, we have two Supreme Patriarchs. I want to tell the prime minister that loyalty is a very good thing, but he should take action instead of sitting on his hands.''
The hosts cited an article, which apparently referred to the King as the father and the prime minister as the eldest son. The father had more than 60 million children, always loved them and taught them to be honest and hardworking. The eldest son was stubborn and arrogant, wanted to compete with the father.
The Criminal Court accepted the lawsuit for consideration and set Dec 26 this year for the first hearing. The Civil Court scheduled March 13 next year for its first hearing.
Source: Bangkok Post.
No freedom of speech really in thailand unless it is favourable to the politians pockets down the line.
The dalai lama was mentioning that some countries have a very selfish jelous mindset. i was listening on a bus. The selfishness is a form of mental illness he was on about. He did not mention which countries but i'm guessing china because they stole tibet and the politicians here are from mainly chinese backgrounds. He was on about the propeganda the chinese gov spread there to keep the people dumb and that talking to chinese people, that they don't know much about affairs and have a very distorted view of what they are aware of.
The people don't like other people to have too much unless they have more. The stuggle to be better than.
I'm not into buddism just mentioning it as Thailand is a buddist country, supposedly anyway. Not into any religion.
It all leads back to peoples stuggle for power, more money, more power. The jelous selfish mindset. Not saying that polititans here have selfish jelous mindsets. not my business anyway.
It is kind of sad really seeing it. I always think about the royal family when I see it as the King really cares about the people but the government runs the show. Anyway time takes care of things.
That douwe egberts coffee in big foil pack here isn't nice at all.
The dalai lama was mentioning that some countries have a very selfish jelous mindset. i was listening on a bus. The selfishness is a form of mental illness he was on about. He did not mention which countries but i'm guessing china because they stole tibet and the politicians here are from mainly chinese backgrounds. He was on about the propeganda the chinese gov spread there to keep the people dumb and that talking to chinese people, that they don't know much about affairs and have a very distorted view of what they are aware of.
The people don't like other people to have too much unless they have more. The stuggle to be better than.
I'm not into buddism just mentioning it as Thailand is a buddist country, supposedly anyway. Not into any religion.
It all leads back to peoples stuggle for power, more money, more power. The jelous selfish mindset. Not saying that polititans here have selfish jelous mindsets. not my business anyway.
It is kind of sad really seeing it. I always think about the royal family when I see it as the King really cares about the people but the government runs the show. Anyway time takes care of things.
That douwe egberts coffee in big foil pack here isn't nice at all.
Oh By the way,
What was that increase in the governments internet watchdog power here.
happened i think on 23rd of september? Something about the agency getting it's own power to go into peoples homes or the like and also something about it increasing in size. That's just secondhand stuff from memory of a newspaper but i was surprised to not see much mention of it at time on internet.
What was that increase in the governments internet watchdog power here.
happened i think on 23rd of september? Something about the agency getting it's own power to go into peoples homes or the like and also something about it increasing in size. That's just secondhand stuff from memory of a newspaper but i was surprised to not see much mention of it at time on internet.
I'd agree with a lot of that. GL.niceday wrote:No freedom of speech really in thailand unless it is favourable to the politians pockets down the line.
The dalai lama was mentioning that some countries have a very selfish jelous mindset. i was listening on a bus. The selfishness is a form of mental illness he was on about. He did not mention which countries but i'm guessing china because they stole tibet and the politicians here are from mainly chinese backgrounds. He was on about the propeganda the chinese gov spread there to keep the people dumb and that talking to chinese people, that they don't know much about affairs and have a very distorted view of what they are aware of.
The people don't like other people to have too much unless they have more. The stuggle to be better than.
I'm not into buddism just mentioning it as Thailand is a buddist country, supposedly anyway. Not into any religion.
It all leads back to peoples stuggle for power, more money, more power. The jelous selfish mindset. Not saying that polititans here have selfish jelous mindsets. not my business anyway.
It is kind of sad really seeing it. I always think about the royal family when I see it as the King really cares about the people but the government runs the show. Anyway time takes care of things.
That douwe egberts coffee in big foil pack here isn't nice at all.
Tacksin himself is worth more than 5 billion baht.lomuamart wrote:Yes,
Just another example of Toxism. 5 billion Baht and no of course there's no other example of the family suing other than in the name of Shin Corp.
Or is there?
Must be the figure he is suing for to scare anyone about talking unsuitable truth. He used be worth 2 billion dollars US years ago and has made more vast fortunes for himself as the PM. The numbers he is worth is amazing and very sad and ironic cosidering the number of peasants in thailand and the state of the schools etc with 50 kids in a class learning next to nothing. Big difference from being bankrupt.
And if he is clever there is a lot more hidden money also that never gets mentioned a lot lot more.
Even a massage of the ear lobes wouldn't heal the pain if he was not making a profit.
When i see that forced sideways smile of his or sneer or whatever it is I think of all the tousands of people who have being killed because of his style of govern and starved mindset and all the millions of people he has shat on and does everyday for him to have his bit of money.
He can keep his bit of money and all that goes with it I think.
He deserves nothing less.
Still it's nice to have a bad guy, the muslims must think it also seeing the way they have gone nuts while he's being in power.
Is it safe enough to talk honestly about him on this forum so long as not too honest or would it be better avoid completely same as most thais do.
I can't find that link to HRM The King's birthday speech. the one before last was even better i think. It was really good.
An outsider would consider It amazing how the man was even re-elected! The Bangkok Post made it known how in the run-up to the elections the police were making routine checks at check-points discovered vast sums of money in some pick-ups in voting areas throughout the North-East.
In the polling stations many peasants told of being given 1000 - 2000 baht 'gift' money to influence their voting.
Once that story had been released I knew the foul Toxin man had won the election before it had even started.
Thats in the past though, its now we have to be concerned about.
I can only hope that his mad-cap plans and ideas don't become any more outlandish and intruding than they are now!
It's when we expats get the heat turned up against us with more stupid anti-falang laws that the shit will really hit the fan! Immigration fees/retrictions are a current boiling point for example.
At the moment the Toxic Tyrant seems to have his hands full with lawsuits and the 'Troubles' down south. Once that dies down expect some serious crap to fly in all directions!
In the polling stations many peasants told of being given 1000 - 2000 baht 'gift' money to influence their voting.
Once that story had been released I knew the foul Toxin man had won the election before it had even started.
Thats in the past though, its now we have to be concerned about.
I can only hope that his mad-cap plans and ideas don't become any more outlandish and intruding than they are now!
It's when we expats get the heat turned up against us with more stupid anti-falang laws that the shit will really hit the fan! Immigration fees/retrictions are a current boiling point for example.
At the moment the Toxic Tyrant seems to have his hands full with lawsuits and the 'Troubles' down south. Once that dies down expect some serious crap to fly in all directions!
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Bamboo Grove
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Rider wrote
I'm not sure if you consider me as an outsider or insider, but I still can't figure it out. Then again, neither can I figure out how Bush did the same (as did Blair)An outsider would consider It amazing how the man was even re-elected!
Back in Bamboo Grove
http://bamboogrovestories.blogspot.com/
http://bamboogrovestories.blogspot.com/
Bush is good looking and his competition kerry looked tired and past it and not good looking. kinda dead looking.
9/11 still has the yanks angry so bush was good for taking revenge even if it was at the wrong country or for different interests. He is a bit of a joker too and kerry was dry that way. in a way it looked like kerry was almost placed there as he was so kinda dead looking but i doubt that is realistic.
Always liked blair the way he seems to be clear thinking and able to put his finger on it and also shows some heart and consideration in his speechs.
Tacksin himself. well can't quiet figure how he got back, the crooked smile dosen't help. hansome?. Keep the peasants stupid and addicted to village loans and buy up media, tv etc and push out the propeganda the chinese way.
bribes, kickbacks and vote-buying and reward support for other politations, gov workers etc. Make Thai people afraid to talk out about him.
Thailand seems like it's owned and run by chinese backgrounds.
The Chinese thais have much better education are better with money and they hire their own. Even the Thai people hate the colour of their own skin and favour the chinese thai colour -white skin. So the Thais hate Thais and Love thai chinese.
Whats the party name? Ironic in a way.
Do they address that problem much in thai media. They even let an oz in miss thailand over a thai looking thai
.
9/11 still has the yanks angry so bush was good for taking revenge even if it was at the wrong country or for different interests. He is a bit of a joker too and kerry was dry that way. in a way it looked like kerry was almost placed there as he was so kinda dead looking but i doubt that is realistic.
Always liked blair the way he seems to be clear thinking and able to put his finger on it and also shows some heart and consideration in his speechs.
Tacksin himself. well can't quiet figure how he got back, the crooked smile dosen't help. hansome?. Keep the peasants stupid and addicted to village loans and buy up media, tv etc and push out the propeganda the chinese way.
bribes, kickbacks and vote-buying and reward support for other politations, gov workers etc. Make Thai people afraid to talk out about him.
Thailand seems like it's owned and run by chinese backgrounds.
The Chinese thais have much better education are better with money and they hire their own. Even the Thai people hate the colour of their own skin and favour the chinese thai colour -white skin. So the Thais hate Thais and Love thai chinese.
Whats the party name? Ironic in a way.
Do they address that problem much in thai media. They even let an oz in miss thailand over a thai looking thai
.