Effective Wednesday night, Thailand's Information and Technology Ministry has successfully blocked signals of the satellite-based People Channel (PTV) which carries messages from the UDD leadership to supporters throughout the country. The ministry claims the action is justified under the State of Emergency decree because PTV is broadcasting malicious falsehoods about the government and it's handling of the red shirt mess.
On Tuesday and Wednesday nights when I was jogging, I stopped to watch PTV with a group that had gathered in front of what must have been the only satellite set in the neighborhood. The man speaking Tuesday reminded me so much of photos I've seen of Chairman Mao! He was evne wearing the same hat - just this tiny ant on a stage in front of the thousands of red shirts camped out in front of the mall. Everything was in Thai, but I caught the words "eighteen," "sabai dee (feel good)" and "Abhisit (prime minister)."
One of the officials quoted expressed the optmistic hope that without central direction, the red shirts will "wander aimlessly" and "do something else."
By the way, at least for now, you can watch PTV on the internet. It's interesting for a couple seconds! Here's some links:
PowerDMC
Ustream
Tweeted 3 hours ago: At 12.05 Jaturon (UDD leader)took the stage and told Reds that the blackout of PTV means the end of Govt. Hmm ...
Showing posts with label Bangkok. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bangkok. Show all posts
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Don't believe everything you see on CNN
Those following the news at home be warned . . .
Though I can't predict what will happen with this latest round of protests, my impression from living in Bangkok and Jakarta is that the western media always picks the scariest, bloodiest, freakiest, most outrageous footage and goes crazy with it, and that it's grossly inaccurate to the daily reality. For example, last year at Songkran, the Red Shirts and the police had a clash at Victory Monument that involved flaming bus smashing into a barricade. This affected regular people very little, but when I saw it on CNN, they made Bangkok look like a scene out of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. I was both shocked and hugely pissed-off, because while fiery footage grabs viewers, it also hurts Thailand's tourism, which is massive chunk of the economy. Would it kill the media to show a more balanced view? (/rant)
OK. Am really going jogging now!
Though I can't predict what will happen with this latest round of protests, my impression from living in Bangkok and Jakarta is that the western media always picks the scariest, bloodiest, freakiest, most outrageous footage and goes crazy with it, and that it's grossly inaccurate to the daily reality. For example, last year at Songkran, the Red Shirts and the police had a clash at Victory Monument that involved flaming bus smashing into a barricade. This affected regular people very little, but when I saw it on CNN, they made Bangkok look like a scene out of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. I was both shocked and hugely pissed-off, because while fiery footage grabs viewers, it also hurts Thailand's tourism, which is massive chunk of the economy. Would it kill the media to show a more balanced view? (/rant)
OK. Am really going jogging now!
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