<div> <div>The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has declared a 30-day suspension of broadcasting of a TV station run by red-shirt leaders because it allegedly threatened national security and ‘good morals’.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 9 August 2017, the Secretary-General of the NBTC, Takorn Tantasith, announced the Commission’s decision to revoke Peace TV’s broadcasting licence for 30 days as punishment for publishing seditious content and violating an agreement with the NBCT. </div></div>

<div> <div>On 18 July 2017, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) awarded its Press Freedom Award to four journalists, including Pravit Rojanaphruk, a senior reporter at Khaosod English, who has consistently criticised Thailand’s junta and the lèse majesté law. </div></div>

<div> <div>After approval of the junta’s controversial media bill by the National Reform Council (NRC), three consumer rights organisations have demanded that the bill be scrapped to protect Thailand’s democratic values.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 2 May 2017, a network of consumer rights organisations consisting of the Foundation for Consumers, the Confederation of Consumer Organisations and the Independent Committee for Consumer Protection issued <a href="http://www.indyconsumers.org/main/media-telecom-151/680-press-02052560-001.html">a statement</a> denouncing the <a> </a></div></div>

<div>Senior journalists have denounced the junta&rsquo;s controversial Media Bill, arguing the junta wishes to entrench itself in power rather than promote truth and responsible media.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>On 22 February 2017, a panel of senior journalists and media officials at the Foreign Correspondents&rsquo; Club of Thailand warned that severe new media regulations proposed by the junta represent the military&rsquo;s ambitions to maintain an influence in Thai politics even after the country transitions to a democratic system.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Thepchai Yong, the President of the Thai Broadcas</div>

<p>The expressions of outrage at the sentencing of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk to 10 years for lèse majesté offences have, rather embarrassingly, been overwhelmingly from foreign organizations.&nbsp; Not only has the National Human Rights Commission, alongside the government, been the recipient of these protests, rather than the author of one or two, but the Thai Journalists Association has also so far maintained a studied silence.</p> <p></p>

<p>The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has criticised the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) over its request to online news portal, Malaysiakini to take down videos related to a controversial protest against the relocation of a temple in Shah Alam, close to the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.</p>