The broadcasting of SMS messages on television programmes and the airing of opinions on radio programmes have been banned until the country is returned to a normal state, the permanent secretary of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry has announced.

Kraisorn Pornsutee yesterday summoned news editors of all media organisations as well as mobile-phone service operators to receive the ICT's new policy on information control.

The ICT on Wednesday was authorised by the Council for Democracy Reform under Constitutional Monarchy to "control, block and destroy" all media coverage that would undermine the council's "political reforms under democracy".

Several guidelines for news editors and television executives were also announced during yesterday's meeting. Though the sending of SMS messages to TV programmes was not in itself prohibited, the airing of those messages was.

Kraisorn reasoned that this was because some messages were "inappropriate". The ban on airing telephone calls on radio extended to all types of programmes including traffic reports on stations such as Jor Sor 100.

A representative of Jor Sor 100 complained that the ban would prevent the station from fulfilling its main purpose. Kraisorn responded that he would report to the council on the case of Jor Sor 100.

Regarding SMS short news services in which news is sent to mobile phones by service providers in the form of a text message, Kraisorn said service providers must check with the ICT before releasing any news. Online media services, particularly websites that host discussion boards, were given three guidelines by Kraisorn: messages referring to the "revered institution" must be removed, messages must not be detrimental to peace and morality and webmasters must take responsibility for all messages posted on their site.

No special guidelines were issued for the print media

Phaisal Jorphochaudom, acting president of CAT Telecom, which oversees the country's Internet service, said he has asked webmasters to be responsible with their sites. He said he had ordered his staff to closely monitor the Internet. Any website found to be hosting inappropriate content would be shut down.

The Television and Radio Journalist's Association of Thailand yesterday issued an open letter saying that the council should not obstruct the freedom of the press. The association also encouraged all journalists to practice their craft responsibly and not become tools of any faction.