Thailand's military-backed government launched a nation-wide radio crackdown on Friday, after closing three broadcasters which aired comments from ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
"The public relations department is checking content on every community radio station to see whether it violates our national security," Phachern Khamphoe, deputy director general of the department, told AFP.
The announcement of security checks on 3,000 community stations came a day after authorities shut down three Bangkok outlets which broadcast telephone calls from Thaksin, who now lives in London.
The former prime minister has remained in self-imposed exile since the military overthrew his twice-elected government in September last year. While he has previously spoken to international media following the coup, Thaksin's foray this week marked his first contact with local media since the military take-over.
Thai authorities on Friday filed complaints against Confidante Radio and Taxi Driver Community Radio, saying the two anti-junta stations were set up "illegally."
If found guilty, their operators could face up to five years in jail, a fine of 500,000 baht (14,000 dollars) or both, said Borworn Taecha-In, director of the Office of National Broadcasting Commission.
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