Media join forces for a free press

[Norseman]

Bangkok Post.

Six media organisations united yesterday to stave off the prospect of government interference in the media
by issuing a joint statement which makes note of the absence of a guarantee of media freedom from the government policies
due to be announced on Monday.
The joint statement was issued by the National Press Council of Thailand, the Confederation of Thai Journalists,
the Thai Journalists Association, the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, the Provincial Journalists Association of Thailand,
and the Thailand Cable Television Association.

The organizations were baffled as to why the government devoted only two lines to describe its policies towards the media.

The government stated that it would allow the public to receive information from the state and other public media outlets
in a broad, correct, fair and swift manner.

But there was no mention in the policy platform of any form of a guarantee of media independence.

Many media professionals have become worried over a pledge by Prime Minister's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair,
who is set to order the management of state-owned media channels to ensure a balanced coverage in their programmes.

One of the apparent focal points of the proposed changes is Channel 11, which is run by the Public Relations Department (PRD),
one of the country's largest owners of concessions for broadcasters.

Media groups are closely watching a spat involving Mr Jakrapob and outspoken former senator Chirmsak Pinthong,
who complained after the radio programme he hosted was recently taken off the air.

Mr Chirmsak accused Mr Jakrapob of pressuring Fatima Broadcasting International Co, the concessionaire of the PRD,
to remove his talk show programme, which was replaced the following day.

Mr Jakrapob, a former journalist, denied the allegation.

Mr Chirmsak's radio programme on FM105 last Tuesday dealt with Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's recent interview with CNN
concerning the pro-democracy uprising by students on Oct 6, 1976.

Mr Samak told CNN that the crackdown on the protesters claimed only one life.

During his programme, Mr Chirmsak referred to a pocket book written by veteran politician Veera Musikapong,
which quoted Mr Samak as saying in 1977 that the clash between police and students had left 48 people killed
and that four of them were burned to death.

Referring to the issue between Mr Jakrapob and Mr Chirmsak, Mr Samak said yesterday that it was simply unfair
that the former senator left the programme voluntarily, but told everyone his show was removed from the time slot.

''The director-general [of the PRD] must clear up any questions for the sake of our people [the government].

''The record must be set straight that we did not have a hand in this,'' he said.

Several hours later, PRD director-general Pramoj Rathavinij and Fatima chairman Saengchai Apichartthanapat
organised a press conference to deny anyone had ordered the removal of Mr Chirmsak's programme.

Both insisted the closure of Mr Chirmsak's programme was based on Mr Chirmsak's voluntary decision.

Mr Pramoj said the PRD, as a government agency, had to do its best to follow government policies
and the media must act within its scope of work and be mindful of appropriateness in the contents it presents.

Mr Samak said he plans to improve the PRD's Channel 11 television to be politically neutral and claimed it will not support the government.

His plan to change things at the station came after his dream to set up a new television station was stopped
because laws prohibit the establishment of a new channel.

The joint statement by the six media organisations stated that the opposition and the government should have equal air time
as the government could voice its views on current affairs through state-run media outlets.

The organisations also warned the government not to interfere with the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS),
the country's first public television station which began its full-format broadcast yesterday after 14 days of trial runs.

Mr Samak promised to keep his hands off Thai PBS, claiming he was intimidated by the channel.