Montri Im-ake of San Pa Tong community radio FM 89.00MHz in Chiang Mai told Prachatai of an order by the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) banning the use of Karen language in community radios near the Thai-Burma border for fear of communicating sensitive information concerning recent unrest inside Burma.

According to a report by PNN News, Bunjan Janmoh of community radio 90.75MHz in Chiang Mai's Hod district said that on Oct 5 during a monthly meeting of the radio station's board and volunteer radio hosts, Second Lt Chavalit Sirisap, owner of Hod Radio community radio station attached to the ISOC, came to tell the meeting that from then on Karen language was prohibited in community radio programs, and only central Thai and the northern dialect were allowed.

There was no order in writing, but the radio hosts have temporarily stopped using Karen language since then. Later, after communicating through the Hod district office, it was confirmed that the ISOC did issue the ban order for security reasons.

Montri said that when there were demonstrations in Burma, groups of Karen people also had some movements, and the community radio normally ran its programs in Karen. That might make the Thai authorities suspicious that the hosts might talk about the uprising, or incite people. And there are many radio stations that use Karen.

Montri said those people have been natives of Hod district for generations. They are related to Karen people living along the border from Ratchaburi, through Tak to Chiang Mai, but they have nothing to do with politics. He said the hosts told him that they just wanted to communicate in their language, and preserve it as their identity. The problem is the soldiers do not understand the language, and are afraid of what they do not know.

Militarized community radios

There are attempts to force community radios to put themselves under military control in the north which is under the Third Army. Radio stations that air adverts of the military or support the military will get some kind of protection. Now there is a so-called community radio network for security set up by certain people who try to coerce everybody to be under their wing, and threaten any who are not willing. But the radios are supposed to belong to the communities, not serve as a security tool for the military, said Montri.

Montri said that his network of people's media in the north is trying to maintain its principle of not having commercials. Without commercials, it is without interest and ‘they' would not want to get their hands on it.

Asked if the internal security bill posed a threat to community radios, he said, "Certainly. It would mean absolute power. Community radios which we say are people's media for checks and balance would be meaningless."