A Thai TV station decided to cancel a popular soap opera mini-series this week, causing an uproar among viewers who are now demanding that they show the final episodes.
Click here to see the original report by the Associated Press.
Channel 3 decided that they would stop showing the mini-series drama "Neua Mek 2" after deciding that the content of the show was "inappropriate for broadcast according to the Associated Press.
The show, which told the story of a fictitious Thai prime minister, began on Dec. 14 and was aired on TV three nights a week. After the station made the decision and announced it publicly, the final two two-hour episodes that were set to air on Jan. 4 and 5, were not shown.
"Those who know best (about the issue) are the broadcaster, producers and related personnel," Prime Minister's Office minister Warathep Rattanakorn told reporters this weekend.
Thousands of people took to social networking sites to voice their frustrations, even making Facebook pages to gain support for the show.
"How come in this society you're being attacked when you speak the truth," a fan wrote on the "Bring Me Back Nua Mek 2" Facebook page, which has gained over 47,000 followers already. "I want the show to run until the end. At least it can open our eyes wide enough to see what our country is really like!"
Channel 3 didn't offer any further explanation for the cancellation, but a station executive told a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, Thailand's broadcast regulator, that the channel feared the show's content could violate the law according to the Associated Press.
The station also told NBTC board member Peerapong Manakit that the station was worried that the content violated Section 37 of the Broadcast and Telecommunications Operations Act, which doesn't allow "content that seeks to overthrow the constitutional monarchy, threatens national security, or morality, or constitutes profanity or causes severe harm to people's mental or physical health."
The Thai Constitution Protection Association said it will now seek an order from the NBTC to force Channel 3 to air the two remaining episodes. They're also planning on revoking the broadcast concessions granted to Channel 3 according to the Associated Press.
"It hurts the viewers' feelings and has infringed on the rights of Thai consumers," said Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the association to the Associated Press. "They have the constitutional right to watch it until the end."
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