FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Thai PBS being probed by NBTC panel

Thai PBS being probed by NBTC panel

The broadcasting regulator yesterday confirmed that it had received a complaint letter from the junta's media monitoring team to investigate a news report by Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) related to a recent demonstration by anti-coup activi

Lt-General Peerapong Manakit, a commissioner of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) who serves as chairman of the subcommittee overseeing broadcasting content, said that on Monday his team had discussed this issue with Thai PBS representatives after receiving the complaint letter last week from the media monitoring team of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). 
Referring to the NCPO’s letter, Peerapong added that the junta’s argument was the Thai PBS news report could create confusion and misunderstanding among the public about last week’s event when police officers had to deal with a group of anti-coup students. Though he declined to reveal more about the discussions with Thai PBS representatives, the commissioner hinted that his team appeared to agree with the NCPO’s argument.
Therefore, he would place the results of the investigation and additional details of the discussions with Thai PBS before the weekly board meeting of five members of the NBTC’s Broadcasting Committee next Monday for consideration. 
His subcommittee might suggest that Thai PBS be issued a warning letter by the watchdog or face a fine under the broadcasting regulation.
Meanwhile, a Thai PBS source denied reports in social media that it had cut the salary of a reporter as punishment for filing a special report on the student movement.
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