Thailand’s military junta has banned the media from criticising its operations and officials, reports local media.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) took control of Thailand in a military coup in May and had shut down many radio and TV stations during the country’s ongoing political crisis.

Its latest announcement, made last Friday, requires the media to distribute information issued by the military and prohibits interviews which may cause or worsen conflicts, convey false information or lead to any anti-NCPO activity.

The media also faces an immediate ban and legal action for disseminating confidential government information or criticising the NCPO.

Concerned members of the Thai Journalists Association (TJA), Thai Broadcast Journalists Association (TBJA), the National Press Council of Thailand (NPCT) and the News Broadcasting Council of Thailand called on the NCPO to revoke or change its latest announcement.

In a meeting with the Permanent-Secretary for Defence General Surasak Kanjanarat, they were told that the NCPO wanted to strengthen media self-censorship.

After the meeting, TJA president Pradit Ruangdit told The Nation: “What was most intolerable in the announcement was item five, which allows authorities to ban the distribution, sale or broadcast of media. We are also concerned about item three that prohibits criticism of the NCPO.”