(AP) May 19 –
The government declared an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in Bangkok, and said army operations would continue through the night.
“Tonight is going to be another worrisome night,” government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said.
It also imposed a partial media blackout on local TV stations, saying all of them will have to air government-prepared bulletins.
Protesters turned their rage on the local media, which they have accused of pro-government coverage. They attacked the offices of state-run Channel 3, setting fire to cars outside and puncturing water pipes that flooded the building.
“At Channel 3 need urgent help from police, soldiers!!!” tweeted news anchor Patcharasri Benjamasa. “News cars were smashed and they are about to invade the building.”
Hours later its building was on fire. Its executives were evacuated by helicopter and police rescued other staff. The English-language Bangkok Post newspaper evacuated its staff after threats from the Red Shirts. A large office building down the street from the Post was set afire. » The full AP article – By Denis D. Gray
Bangkok – May 18 | Thai Media joins government in spreading hate:
A constant crawl at the bottom of television screens, which started running in March on two government-owned stations, makes the case that “malevolent” protesters are hurting the country and should go home. And an advertisement implores, “Thais should love each other because we all live in the same country.”
“The Thai people love peace but when we go to war, we are not fearful,” read one of the dozens of messages exhorting people to oppose the protest movement that has paralyzed parts of Bangkok for more than seven weeks.
At the same time the government has shut down an opposition television station and at least 420 Web sites affiliated with the red shirt movement.
Officials are also accusing red shirts of trying to overthrow the monarchy, an incendiary charge that protest leaders reject. » The full International Herald Tribune article By By Thomas Fuller.
- The New York Times – Learning Network – When the News Ignites a Fuse -
Overview | Students examine news stories and images that have incited violence in the past to put into historical context recent news coverage. Go to this Media and Building a Healthy Society Lesson. - The New York Times – Learning Network – News or Propaganda? -
Overview | Students discuss objectivity and press responsibility. Go to this Media and Building a Healthy Society Lesson. - World Wise School – “How Accurate is It?”
Overview | This activity introduces students to the difficult concept of generalization so that they will challenge generalizations made about people… Go to this Building Society Lesson Worksheet. - The New York Times – Learning Network – Exploring Bias in the News -
Overview | Students look for biased words in news articles, suggest synonyms, then rewrite the sentences to demonstrate how word choice can alter meaning. Go to this Media and Building a Healthy Society Lesson. - The New York Times – Learning Network – Keeping It Quiet -
Overview | Students consider ways in which countries use censorship to control information. Go to this Law and Society Lesson.
