NBTC probing live TV broadcast by Thaksin

Agency reviewing if state Channel 11 abused licence; to respond on Friday

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commis-sion will on Friday present its response to the controversial broadcast of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"The NBTC is empowered to enforce the broadcasting law," NBTC member Supinya Klangnarong said.

The controversy erupted on Sunday after state-run Channel 11 aired a boxing match from Macao presided over by Thaksin, who made a speech rebutting critics about his loyalty to the monarchy.

Station managers claimed they could not block the live broadcast because it had sold the airtime to a private operator.

Supinya said the NBTC response would seek to address three issues.

The first was whether the station abused its public service by selling the airtime.

The second was whether the public was properly informed in advance about the programme change to accommodate the live broadcast.

The third was whether the sale of airtime violated the broadcasting law.

Supinya said the NBTC would review the legitimacy of the broadcasting licence held by the government's Public Relations Department.

The review would be conducted in conjunction with a long-term plan to reallocate airwaves, she said.

Deputy Commerce Minister Natthawut Saikua said Thaksin, like other Thai expats, took part in this month's activities to honour HM the King, coinciding with His Majesty's birthday (four days earlier).

Natthawut said parties involved with the boxing match in question had said they did not arrange the appearance of Thaksin in advance.

Natthawut, a red-shirt leader, saw no reason to make a political issue out of Thaksin's speech professing loyalty. He dismissed claims that a majority of the people objected to a fugitive being allowed to appear on state television, saying he had not detected any negative sentiment.

Democrat MP Ong-art Klampaiboon said he suspected a plot for Thaksin to appear on the state-run television. Two of the organisers had given conflicting statements, he said. Kulthon Prachaubmoh said he met and invited Thaksin at short notice but Chaiyasit Shinawatra said the programme was planned in advance.

Thaksin fan clubs posted messages on social media about waiting to see his appearance in television.

PM: govt not involved

Prime Minister Yingluck Shina-watra said the government had no involvement in the matter, arguing that Channel 11 had sole jurisdiction over the content of the broadcast.

Yingluck said she had learned about the live broadcast from news reports, as she did not watch the programme.

"As far as I know, I understand the programme was about a sporting event which has no bearing on the country's security."

She said she was not in a position to intervene in all issues, such as television programmes.

Programming should be decided by the station management and if there was no security aspect to consider, the government would not get involved. She was informed about Thaksin's appearance after the live broadcast ended, she said.

In a talk to the Asia Society in Hong Kong yesterday, the former PM said his sister's government should hold a referendum to gauge people's opinions on amendments to the constitution before going ahead with any changes.

"Before, there was no justice in the Thai political system and I personally believe that a good reconciliation [sic] will happen when the law is enforced in a fair and equal manner," Thaksin said.

"Reconciliation is not about me receiving an amnesty so that I can return home, because I'm already familiar with staying abroad," he said.

Meanwhile, Yingluck said after the Cabinet meeting yesterday her government had decided to allow public participation in the charter amendment process by getting the Interior and Justice ministries to hold public hearings and then a referendum before voting on a third reading of the controversial bill to rewrite the constitution.

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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2012/12/12/nbtc-probing-live-tv-broadcast-by-thaksin/