Several radio stations in the Thai city of Pattaya remain off the air following last week’s military coup.

Sources tell Asia Radio Today that most Thai stations in the city are silent or are airing military programmes, while English stations Mix 88.5, 96fm , Fabulous 103fm and Pattay 105 are also off air.

Nationwide, all broadcasters were ordered to suspend regular programming last week when the military took over the running of the country.

But most returned to normal schedules within 24 hours.

However, hundreds of illegal community radio stations, most of whom were said to be broadcasting pro or anti-government views, were forced off air permanently.

It is feared that dozens of stations with licences from the National Broadcasting & Telecommunications Commission (NTBC) may have been mistaken for illegal community stations.

One Pattaya-based radio executive told Asia Radio Today that despite following military guidelines, they have not been given permission to restart broadcasting.

“Advertising revenue has obviously stopped and we may have to lay off our Thai staff, he said on condition of anonymity.

“We are getting hundreds of messages a day from listeners,” he added and called for clear guidelines from Thai military authorities.

Another source told Asia Radio Today that stations in Bangkok and other provinces including Phuket are now broadcasting normally.

Last week, Thailand’s military declared martial law and then a day later staged a coup d’etat after the latest phase of a nearly decade-long political crisis turned ugly.

Protests erupted after the government of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinowatra was accused of corruption. Opponents also claimed she was smoothing the way for her brother and former leader Thaksin to return from exile.

As well as closing radio stations, several TV networks were forced off air and websites were shut down.