He added government prohibition of its broadcasts could lead to it taking its grievances about state unfairness to the public in Sanam Luang.

The station was established by former top members of the Thai Rak Thai Party and went to air on Saturday via Star Channel MV1. The broadcast was blocked later in the day.

World Entertainment Network - owner of Star Channel - informed PTV it was talking with CAT Telecom over permission for continued broadcasts. Those discussions should be finalised about noon today, Veera said.

"No matter if we cannot broadcast; PTV is here to stay. If this government will not let us broadcast then we will do so under the next.

"In the meantime, we will go to Sanam Luang as a stage to complain to the people," he said.

He said Council for National Security (CNS) chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin need not be concerned about PTV causing public chaos. The station will heed the law.

The CNS should worry more about unrest in the South, he said.

Former Democrat Party member of Parliament Apichart Sakdiset said the government should not muzzle PTV. The people are already aware the station is a new political group in "disguise", he said.

Allowing PTV to broadcast will reduce tensions among sections of the public with different opinions to express, he said.

Samatcha Hoonsara,

Yossawadee Hongthong

The Nation