CityNews – The BBC is launching a ‘pop-up’ news service for Thailand this evening, July 10, in an effort to avoid censors and bring “trusted news and information” to a country still under martial law.
It will run as a news stream on social media, with both Thai and English content, for an initial period of three months.
“One of the fundamental principles of the World Service is to bring impartial and accurate news to countries when they lack it,” said Liliane Landor, controller of language services for the BBC’s World Service.
“We think the time is right to trial a new Thai and English digital stream to bring trusted news and information to people inside Thailand. Thailand is one of the most digitally advanced societies in Southeast Asia, and this means we can set up this operation quickly and cost-effectively.”
The British Broadcasting Corporation’s Thai service closed in 2006 after more than 60 years, and following the May 22 coup, the BBC and other international channels were temporarily taken off the air.
The ruling junta has imposed strict censorship and cracked down on dissenting journalists, academics and supporters of the ousted Pheu Thai government.
Thanapol Eawsakul, the editor of Fah Diew Khan (Same Sky) magazine, was released from detention yesterday after being arrested for a second time – prompting renewed concern from human rights groups.
“Arbitrary arrests of dissidents and critics are part of a wider human rights crackdown under military rule in Thailand,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Concerned governments should take a strong stand and demand that the military authorities fully abide by Thailand’s international obligations and build a road map for the restoration of a democratic government based on human rights.”
The BBC’s new service was approved by the British government. Minister for Southeast Asia Hugo Swire said it was an “excellent idea” which would “help support the freedoms of expression and thought which are such critical parts of any successful democracy”. The initiative “embodies what the BBC is all about”, he added.
The ruling National Council for Peace and Order has been monitoring social media for signs of dissent, but said it did not oppose the new BBC service.
“We don’t have any problem as long as they don’t send any provocative information that is negative or impacts the stability of the country,” spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak told local media.
The BBC’s new Thai news stream will launch on Facebook at 6.30pm today (Thai time), with national, regional and international stories in Thai and English.