Satellite operator Thaicom has found itself on the front line of the struggle for political power that has raged across Thailand over the past month.
On April 8, thousands of Redshirt protestors descended upon the company’s Teleport and DTH facility,…
Satellite operator Thaicom has found itself on the front line of the struggle for political power that has raged across Thailand over the past month.
On April 8, thousands of Redshirt protestors descended upon the company’s Teleport and DTH facility, following the Thai government’s ruling that Thaicom cease broadcasting the People’s Channel, which supports the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). The UDD opposes the current government headed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Reports from Bangkok indicate that the Thaicom management agreed to restart broadcasting PTV after negotiations with UDD leaders.
Although protests gathered at Thaicom’s central offices in Bangkok, the most dramatic action was seen at the Teleport and DTH centre at the outskirts of the city, where massed demonstrators broke through an army cordon and occupied the compound.
It is unclear as to whether any Thaicom services have been disrupted by the situation.
Thaicom was again drawn into the conflict on April 25 when Prime Minister Abhisit’s weekly talk show on the state-run broadcaster was cut off for five minutes due to jamming of the Thaicom signal carrying the channel. Thaicom has stated it will carry out a full investigation into the event.
The irony is that the protestors are fiercely pro-Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister and owner of Thaicom, which used to be known as Shin Satellite.
Thaicom has already suffered through its association with Thaksin. In February, the High Court judged that Thaksin had used his power as Prime Minister to gain unfairly favourable contracts and concessions for Thaicom. The company is awaiting the verdict of a government committee on whether it is liable to pay damages and retain its concession to operate satellites.
The fact that it has become further embroiled in the nation’s political unrest increases the uncertainty surrounding the company’s future. Its share price plummeted following the corruption verdicts, but had made a minor recovery over the last month.
