A Thai court on Tuesday ordered an online TV station to stop broadcasting because of criticism of the government. The court has accused the television station of violating the state of emergency imposed last week to stop more than three months of protests against the government and the monarchy.
This was stated in a report of the international news agency Reuters on Tuesday.
Puchapong Nothaisang, a spokesman for the country’s digital ministry, told reporters that Voice TV had also violated Thailand’s computer crime laws by uploading “fake information”.
The Thai government has banned protests against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and the monarchy, and has banned protests and demonstrations that are harmful to the country. The country’s government has drawn criticism from various human rights organizations.
Hrithikorn Mahakhchavarn, editor-in-chief of Voice TV, said they would continue broadcasting until a court order was issued.
“We strongly emphasize that we are working on the principles of journalism and will continue to do so,” he added.
Meanwhile, Thai authorities said on Monday that three more media outlets were under investigation.
Part of Voice TV is owned by the Shinawatra family. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra are members of the family. In a coup in 2014, Yingluck was ousted by then-Army chief Prayuth.
Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra are both fleeing Thailand. Both of them have corruption cases against them. However, they have been calling the cases ‘politically motivated’.
Prayut’s cabinet agreed on Tuesday to convene an emergency session of parliament next week to discuss the ongoing crisis, Reuters reported. Prayut has a majority in parliament.
News Room, October 20,2020