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1
July 2005
The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
condemns the Thai government's harassment and
intimidation of Anchalee Paireerak, a producer
and journalist with the community radio station
FM 92.25.
Following
a government request to take down their antenna,
claiming it was too high and interfering with
the signal of the main radio stations, FM 92.25
decided to broadcast over the internet.
The
stations latest troubles have come after the Ministry
of Information and Communications Technology (MICT)
closed their website as well, deeming it too critical
of the current government and the Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra. Anchalee says the Thai government
has been harassing the community radio station
since its inception.
"The
government has been harassing us in every way.
We've been picked on from the beginning,"
she said.
On
22 June , Anchalee reportedly received a warning
urging her to leave the country, a threat that
she is taking seriously. She is considering leaving
Thailand to escape the intimidation. "I don't
want to live in fear, so I'll study again and
do other, non-political things," she said.
"These
intimidatory practises are a blatant disregard
for press freedom," said IFJ president Christopher
Warren.
"We
urge the government of Thailand and the Ministry
of Information and Communications Technology to
halt the harassment of Anchalee Paireerak and
the radio station FM 92.25."
Anchalee
was recently summoned before the House Committee
on Justice where she described the threats that
she had received.
She
said that the Public Relations department had
told her to "improve" the radio station's
programming.
Anchalee
said a cyber inspector who - also was summoned
before the committee but failed to attend - had
contacted her the next day saying the website
would have to be "made legal" before
continuing.
"The
IFJ is concerned for the safety of Anchalee Paireerak
and the future of FM92.25," said the IFJ,
the global organisation that represents over 500,000
journalists worldwide.
"The
Thai government's attempts to silence those who
are in opposition to it are unacceptable."
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