Government blocking rural public from watching News TV

A senator representing Thailand's northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima Province on Tuesday alleged that government agencies are blocking local residents from political information by forcing cable TV providers to cancel their services despite having subscriptions.

"Such acts will only drive more people to join the upcoming rally against the prime minister," warned the senator, Pichet Pattanachoti.

Mr. Pichet said residents of Chumpuang District and surrounding areas had complained that government officials forced their cable TV providers to disconnect their services to prevent them from seeing the news, as the opposition against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has grown with democratic activists planning the massive rally against him on February 26.

''Villagers were told by their cable TV providers that they have been ordered to disconnect the services by government officials, police and district chiefs,'' he said.

Local people are losing their patience, Sen. Pichit said, as the government has cut them off from media information many times.

"Doing this will push more people to rally to oust the prime minister,'' he cautioned.