Community radio stations ordered to close temporarily

Two stations are the northern provinces of Lampang and Chiang Mai, while the third is in the northeastern province of Udon Thani.

The order came after police conducted separate searches at the stations. The searches were conducted after police obtained warrants from the courts, Thai News Agency reported.

Chiang Mai authorities spent more than an hour searching its community radio station, located at a hotel in the provincial seat, and later impounded the transmitter, ordering the station closed for three days.

In Lampang, more than 20 police searched the community radio station, ordered it closed, confiscated a pistol, and asked the station's director to report to the police station.

In Udon Thani, a group of anti-government protest supporters gathered at the community radio station in opposition to the police search. However, no violence was reported.

Police have stepped up pressure against the UDD, known as red shirts, following violent clashes with government forces in Bangkok on Monday.