Thailand’s NBTC draws international criticism as Voice TV is suspended
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Rebecca Hawkes
| 14 February 2019

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has been slammed for "unjustified censorship” by human rights groups over its suspension of Voice TV.

The channel, which began a 15-day ban on 13 February, stands accused by the NBTC of causing public confusion, inciting conflict in society, and threatening national security because it featured guests who were critical of Thailand’s military government, ahead of the national election on 24 March 2019.

“The suspension of Voice TV underlines the message that criticising Thailand’s military government prior to the elections is forbidden,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of the New York based NGO Human Rights Watch. “Thailand’s generals are showing they don’t intend to ease their heavy-handed rule over the country to ensure a fair vote.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists also called on the country's military government to allow all media to report freely on the nation's politics.

Voice TV is owned by Panthongtae Shinawatra, the son of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. It is aligned with the Pheu Thai party, which was ousted in the country's 2014 military coup and is reportedly competing in the upcoming elections.

Voice TV has been targeted for censorship and punishment more than any other TV station in Thailand since the military came to power in 2014, claims Human Rights Watch. Authorities shut down the station for 26 days in 2014 and seven days in 2017. In addition, there have been 17 partial bans, in which authorities instructed the station to remove certain programmes, the NGO said.

“Thailand’s elections won’t be considered credible if media outlets are gagged and critical commentary about military rule is prohibited,” added Adams. “The government should immediately uphold media freedom by lifting Voice TV’s ban and ending further attempts to silence this and other media outlets critical of the junta.”