Community radio chiefs want ban gone
A representative for the community radio industry petitioned the government yesterday to intervene and cancel a police ban on certain community radio stations.
People's Radio Council chairman Wiroj Poolsuk said the ban was enforced arbitrarily by police claiming that station frequencies were interfering with police radio communications and broadcasts granted by concession. "The authorities should try to solve the broadcast interference instead of issuing an outright ban," Wiroj said. He suggested the Public Relations Department organise a meeting between police and operators. Wiroj also dismissed speculation that many community radio operators were sympathetic to the deposed government of Thaksin Shinawatra and had aired shows critical of the coup. He said if this was true, the broadcasters and their programmes should have been identified - but no such evidence had been uncovered. Wiroj's petition was submitted to PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan. There are about 3,000 community radio stations nationwide.
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