BANGKOK — Critics and journalists raised concerns Saturday about the Thai military government’s latest move to tighten its grip on the media by banning it from criticizing the junta’s operations and threatening to immediately suspend the broadcast or publication of content that defies the order.
The National Council for Peace and Order issued an order late Friday prohibiting criticism by anyone, on all forms of media, against the operations of the junta and its personnel. It also asked media operators and “any other individuals” to refrain from disseminating content banned by the military government, including news and information that could create resistance against the junta.
The edict also prohibited interviews of academics, former civil servants or former employees of courts, judicial offices and independent organizations who could “give opinions in a manner that can inflict or worsen the conflict, distort information, create confusion in the society or lead to the use of violence.”
Friday’s order was an amended, more comprehensive version of two previous edicts issued by the junta after the May 22 military coup. Shortly before that, the military, exercising provisions under martial law, ordered a close-down of 14 partisan television networks — both proand anti-government stations — and nearly 3,000 unlicensed community radio stations across Thailand.