Thaksin: Where's Press Freedom

[Scott]

Thaksin: Where's press freedom?

Writer: BangkokPost.com

Published: 7/09/2009 at 11:13 AM Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has questioned the government's commitment to freedom of the press after it instructed the state-run news agency to hand over his radio interview on Sunday for examination.

The fugitive politician gave the interview on the radio programme 'Exclusive by Chom Phetpradab' which airs on MCOT's FM 100.5, upsetting Deputy Prime Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey, who is in charge of state media.

Thaksin on Monday posted a message on Twitter in response to the government's move.

http://bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/153568...e-press-freedom

[TAWP]

While what the government is idiotic, foolish and in clear violation of freedom of press, I cannot help but notice that Thaksin liked the press to be oppressed and bias...when he was in power.

What goes around, eh?

[Beacher]

That's pretty funny.

It was quite clear that the Bangkok Post was nothing more than a vehicle for Thaksin's propaganda when he was in office. Nothing negative toward the government was ever printed, and it was clear that all items in that rag were approved by the PM's office before going to print. However, now that he's out of office he wants the Post to suddenly change what it's been doing from day one - pandering to the PM's office.

Well Mr. Thaky, If you want honesty and transparency in mainstream media, you should have done something about it when you had the chance. Don't scream "foul" when those in the drivers seat are doing the same thing you did - using the press to their advantage.

[mrtoad]

Thaksin clearly has a very short memory.

[baabaabobo]

"Oho!' said the pot to the kettle;

"You are dirty and ugly and black!

Sure no one would think you were metal,

Except when you're given a crack."

"Not so! not so! kettle said to the pot;

"'Tis your own dirty image you see;

For I am so clean -without blemish or blot-

That your blackness is mirrored in me"

[noithip]

Give us back our Press- Freedom, we enjoyed so much!

-- The Nation May 09, 2005

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE: The withered state of Thailand’s press freedom Published on May 09, 2005

The latest survey conducted by New York-based Freedom House was unyielding. Last week it further downgraded Thailand in terms of the conditions in which the Thai press works from number 88 last year to 95 out of 194 countries examined.

This year Thailand was listed as “partly free” along with Lesotho, Mexico and Nicaragua. During the past four years under the leadership of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai press has fallen into this category every year.

The overall conditions in the Asia-Pacific region, meanwhile, showed a relatively high level of press freedom. Of the 40 Asian nations examined, 18 of them were considered free, seven partly free and fifteen not free. Thailand was ranked 23, down from 20 last year, and below most of the countries in the South Pacific as well as Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, India and the Philippines.

The survey attributed Thailand’s decline to the defamation lawsuits that have been filed against editors and publishers.

Freedom House does not have a monopoly on negative assessments of the Thai media. Major free-media and human-rights advocacy groups based in the US and Europe, such as Reporters Without Borders, the International Press Institute, the International Federation of Journalists, Human Rights Watch, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the World Press Freedom Committee and Amnesty International all share similar views and concerns regarding the deterioration of the freedom of expression in Thailand.

Local media organisations have been equally harsh. On the eve of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) issued a strong statement criticising government hypocrisy, particularly the pledge made by Thaksin at the beginning of his second term that he would respect press freedom and democracy.

It must be said over and over again that Thaksin has never made any tangible commitment to promoting, let alone protecting, the freedom of expression in Thailand under his unshakeable leadership. He has, however, made several promises to allow the media to do its job.

The TJA is succinct in assessing that the government has failed to keep its promises and has instead been using every trick in the book to meddle with news reporting. The government has even threatened to pull out advertising and buy up shares in media companies. And then there are the expensive defamation lawsuits. The National Press Council of Thailand has also condemned the defamation laws that make criminals of journalists. These local and foreign evaluations of the Thai media have more or less been based on similar procedures. These groups have all examined the level of individual freedom and the legal, political and economic environments to determine the level of press freedom. And all have agreed that the Thaksin government’s interference in the media continues unabated and has already become a norm.

Is it possible for a one-party government that controls all aspects of Thai life to let go of the media so it can monitor and check the government? Thaksin’s aides, including PM’s Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva, who oversees the media, have said yes to this question.

The media, they concur, are free to report and analyse whatever they deem necessary. In a similar vein, so goes the conventional wisdom, the government will not shy away from using all available means at its disposal to reward and reprimand the media it sees fit. Self-censorship is not imposed by the government, but comes from the publishers and their teams of reporters.

In his second term, Thaksin has become mellower towards human rights, especially in connection to the killings at Krue Se and Tak Bai. His flexibility and softer approach have been made highly visible through the work of the National Reconciliation Commission.

The prime minister has told the country’s attorneys general that Thailand must improve its image as a country that respects human rights. Insiders have said that the prime minister realises that international organisations and Western countries will not forget high-profile violations of human rights, or extrajudicial killings. That helps explain why there has been a renewed effort on the part of the state to follow up on the disappearance of Somchai Neelaphaijit, the Muslim lawyer who disappeared last March.

Having said that, Thaksin has yet to show any appreciation for the role of the media in promoting good governance and democracy, the very values that he said he wants to promote.

It has been accepted all over the world that the media plays a critical role in laying the foundations for developing transparency, accountability, good governance and a respect for human rights. And yet the prime minister has repeatedly failed to create an environment that is conducive to having a free and independent media.

Worst of all, access to information held by the government and other public bodies is increasingly more difficult, and new disclosures have dwindled under Thaksin. The first four years after the access to information law was enacted in 1997 were considered the most open period of the country’s proudest democratic moment. Nearly one million Thais learned or experienced the importance of the public right to know.

Like it or not, Thailand’s future competitiveness and reputation on the global stage will be directly or indirectly linked to the state of the Thai media.

Kavi Chongkittavorn

The Nation

Wonder who startet the downwards trend?

[Oberkommando]

Yes, Thaksin was too controlling with the media.

But two wrongs don't make a right and this government and the Junta that paved their way to power are far worse, especially with the internet. Far more sinister that just "using the press to their advantage" I'm afraid.

The Press Freedom Index and Transparency Indices are all you need as complete proof of this, but also note the billions spent by the current government on internet and media censorship, the greater freedom of the ISOC to conduct its activities, the use of emergency decrees and martial law against troublesome areas and the rigorous enforcement of antiquated laws against dissidents among many other changes for the worse.

[LawnGnome]

I'd say we were being to hard on Mr. T, but then again, he is a convicted fugitive from justice...

[hammered]

The optomism and heady times around the millenium are a long way behind us now. There are probably more people working in th emedia now who have only known the increasing control and manipulation of media by both elected and unelected government. There is a straight line down pretty much since the millenium and the horrible thing is that we can be pretty sure that whoever wins the war they will make sure the media are their propoganda tool, which wont be helped by having loads of people working in the industry who have never known anything else.

[TAWP]

I'd say we were being to hard on Mr. T, but then again, he is a convicted fugitive from justice...

What's the penalty for removing elected governments with military force these days?

It used to be called treason.

Only if you fail.

History clearly states so.

Otherwise, what would you call the French Revolution?

[Oberkommando]

I'd say we were being to hard on Mr. T, but then again, he is a convicted fugitive from justice...

What's the penalty for removing elected governments with military force these days?

It used to be called treason.

Only if you fail.

History clearly states so.

Otherwise, what would you call the French Revolution?

They did fail. A Thaksin proxy government was then elected legitimately and had to be overturned by a controlled judiciary.

[Samuian]

Thaksin clearly has a very short memory.

...or suffers from a split personality disorder!

27. September, 2003 ITV Members sacked...

27. February 2004 Reporter removed...

August, 2004 a prominent "current affairs" show taken off air...

2003 a popular army station suffered "technical malfunction" taken off air..

a critical radio program hosted by Senator Somkiart Onwimon suffered same fate..

another one produced by parliament blacked out...supposedly a "satellite blip" (24. August 2001)

...several Reporters and News Representers suddenly transferred to inactive post's..

He simply demanded "to cut down on negative news to boost businessman's morale..."!!!!!!!!!

TRT drafted a bill to issue "ethical guidelines"...to the media and punish infringements...

in early 2004 the Editor of the Bangkok Post was all of a sudden "kicked upstairs"..because an editorial was

referring to "Thaksins Arrogance"..

...weekly magazine "Siam Rath Sabda Wijan" a whole issue was rewritten overnight - editor and several columnist's quit...

Thai Post, Neaw Nah, The Nation Multimedia..

2003 Thaksin launched his defamation case against Supinya Klangnarong (Head of an NGO monitoring Press Freedom)

for an Article in the Thai Post claiming his Corporation profited from it's political connections...

much more here (Page 155): Source:

"I am not bad guy, I am a good man, I only have too much!"

(Press, 19.April, 2001)

[Plus]

This topic duplicates another thread on the same story.

The govt has all the rights to question MCOT motives broadcasting this interview as pro-Thaksin movement prepares for their next round of anti-government protests.

To me it seems like a clear propaganda piece dressed up as "interview". Honest journalist would have asked a lot more probing and challenging questions.

[TAWP]

...had to be overturned by a controlled judiciary.

Repeating a lie doesn't make it more true.

[topben]

press freedom???? freedom of association???? whatever other freedoms did thaksin did not meddle with during his pm days? pot calling the kettle black?

remembered he reined in some tv channels.

remembered he sent soldiers to the north to gun down thais whom he branded as drug traffickers without much evidence on many who have no part in it.

remembered he ordered the bars and discos to close before 2 a.m. when many farangs from different time zones were just waking up for breakfast or lunch and found the day weather too hot in pattaya and such.

[stumonster]

What's the penalty for removing elected governments with military force these days?

It used to be called treason.

what elected government are you referring to tud^H^H^H^H^oberkommando ?

[animatic]

I'd say we were being to hard on Mr. T, but then again, he is a convicted fugitive from justice...

What's the penalty for removing elected governments with military force these days?

It used to be called treason.

Only if you fail.

History clearly states so.

Otherwise, what would you call the French Revolution?

Yes, history is written by the winners,

even as losers try and re-write as they go along.

Funny how most things DO get discussed anyway.

But not sedition and lese majesty comments.

Some could as easily say Thaksin was removed for treasonous conduct,

for preparing for a coup of his own, dissolving the house, and then trying for

a S.O.E. when only he and a dwindling cabinet were running the WHOLE country.

In which case the military WAS actually protecting the country... from him.

Not a lot of hang ringing went on at that time did it? Food for thought.

Considering the crazy stuff being said in opposition these days, anti-sedition controls are not illogical.

It IS logical that they want to look at ANY Thaksin broadcasts transcript, since Songkran week.

But I repeat

Funny how most ALL things DO get discussed anyway.

But not sedition and lese majesty comments.

The red leaders and Thaksin would be well advised to look at

the fates of D'Antone and his compatriots after the French Revolution...

Da Torpedo was clearly in that territory in her comments.

Over the top like Giles is now. Hense the overly stern object lesson.

[jayboy]

Honest journalist would have asked a lot more probing and challenging questions.

You have rubbished almost every foreign journalist commenting on Thailand, even sometimes to the laughable extent of suggesting they (Times, WSJ, Straits Times, Economist) are directly or indirectly on Thaksin's payroll.I'm just wondering whether any established journalist exists that meets your exacting criteria.

I have specified Foreign because most Thai journalists are not known for probing or challenging (or let's face it even bothering to fact check).

And for chrissake don't come up with Drummond or Crispin.

[Scott]

The overall political situation is far from being resolved and I don't know that the 'fat lady' has sung yet. History remains to be written.

At any rate, this has to do with press freedom which appears to be a dwindling freedom--and has been for quite a while, as other posters have pointed out.

Years ago, when I first came to Thailand, I was amazed at the amount of press freedom there seemed to be. I don't know if it was real or an illusion, but the press seemed pretty unfettered. I don't know what has changed. Perhaps more people speaking/reading English? Perhaps before the powers-that-be simply didn't care what was reported in the English press? This was also before the internet, so perhaps they weren't scared of losing face internationally. Thoughts?

[KhaoNiaw]

After the events of 1992, there was a real air of optimism for democratic development in the country. Despite the Democrats pretty poor performance during those events and in running the country afterwards, it was to their credit that a reasonably free press began to flourish. In this respect, Thaksin was responsible for a huge step backwards.

Edited September 7, 2009 by KhaoNiaw

[tb86]

Thaksin: Where's press freedom?

Writer: BangkokPost.com

Published: 7/09/2009 at 11:13 AM Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has questioned the government's commitment to freedom of the press after it instructed the state-run news agency to hand over his radio interview on Sunday for examination.

The fugitive politician gave the interview on the radio programme 'Exclusive by Chom Phetpradab' which airs on MCOT's FM 100.5, upsetting Deputy Prime Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey, who is in charge of state media.

Thaksin on Monday posted a message on Twitter in response to the government's move.

http://bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/153568...e-press-freedom

if you were a hi profile fugitive from the law and gave a interview, to a newspaper in the country you were wanted in I have a pretty good feeling the government would want to see the interview as well. I hardly see where in this instance the government was out of line.... Imagine if bin laden or some other terrorist was to give an exclusive interview to a member of the press. As a fugitive i dont think you have much of a leg to stand on when it comes to crying about your "rights being violated"... but thats just me thinking out loud

[Theyreallrubbish]

Its like a serial killer protesting the death penalty

[tb86]

Its like a serial killer protesting the death penalty

lol right, why cant i have a big screen in my cell its not fair.... :D

[hammered]

After the events of 1992, there was a real air of optimism for democratic development in the country. Despite the Democrats pretty poor performance during those events and in running the country afterwards, it was to their credit that a reasonably free press began to flourish. In this respect, Thaksin was responsible for a huge step backwards.

The period 1992 to 2000 was the freedom of the media high point. It wasnt just English Language it was everything. Thailand was held up as an example to the rest of Asia back then.

You also had the start of the entrenchment of democracy through Chuan, Banharn, Chavalit and Chuan again. It wasnt the most effective set of governments but they were fairly weak and had to concentrate on there own issues. It was against this backdrop that the media came to be on a high and effectively exposed the excesses of the governments in their turn. Then along came Thaksin who saw how to beat off the disorganised politcla parties and recognised how to work within the new constitution and exploit its loopholes. He also learned the not insignificant role the media had played in bringing down government after government. His operiod was one of control of not just parliament but also media. Then after 14 yerasa the military had their day again and they werent going to let the media back in and it has been pretty much try to control it ever since and to be fair every succesive government has been more extreme than the last one and that trend doesnt look like stopping whoever gets next crack of the whip

[SHYTALK]

You cannot assassinate " electoral democracy" to create "electoral democracy".

Military coupmakers and appointed juduciary take note.

[hammered]

You cannot assassinate " electoral democracy" to create "electoral democracy".

Military coupmakers and appointed juduciary take note.

wow threatening the military and judiciary!

Democracy has never been furthered by denying the democratic rights of another, too

by the way why "electoral democracy"? what other kind of demcoracy is there?

Democracy tends to be characterised by elections amongst a bunch of common traits of which one is also freedom of speech as discussed here.

[animatic]

I'd say we were being to hard on Mr. T, but then again, he is a convicted fugitive from justice...

What's the penalty for removing elected governments with military force these days?

It used to be called treason.

Only if you fail.

History clearly states so.

Otherwise, what would you call the French Revolution?

They did fail. A Thaksin proxy government was then elected legitimately and had to be overturned by a controlled judiciary.

You say controled, but was it? You say so.

But there were laws and the PPP broke those laws, and that called for their dissolution.

It rendered their 3rd string so useless they couldn't form a government ,

no matter HOW MUCH MONEY they had to do it with.

Piss and moan all you want but PPP hoisted itself on the gibbet,

the courts only had to do their jobs. A free court, not as controlled court.

Something Thaksin had prevented too many times in his tenure I might add.

For once the shackles were OFF the judiciaries wrists and they did act.

[henryalleman]

Give us back our Press- Freedom, we enjoyed so much!

-- The Nation May 09, 2005

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE: The withered state of Thailand's press freedom Published on May 09, 2005

The latest survey conducted by New York-based Freedom House was unyielding. Last week it further downgraded Thailand in terms of the conditions in which the Thai press works from number 88 last year to 95 out of 194 countries examined.

This year Thailand was listed as "partly free" along with Lesotho, Mexico and Nicaragua. During the past four years under the leadership of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai press has fallen into this category every year.

The overall conditions in the Asia-Pacific region, meanwhile, showed a relatively high level of press freedom. Of the 40 Asian nations examined, 18 of them were considered free, seven partly free and fifteen not free. Thailand was ranked 23, down from 20 last year, and below most of the countries in the South Pacific as well as Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, India and the Philippines.

The survey attributed Thailand's decline to the defamation lawsuits that have been filed against editors and publishers.

Freedom House does not have a monopoly on negative assessments of the Thai media. Major free-media and human-rights advocacy groups based in the US and Europe, such as Reporters Without Borders, the International Press Institute, the International Federation of Journalists, Human Rights Watch, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the World Press Freedom Committee and Amnesty International all share similar views and concerns regarding the deterioration of the freedom of expression in Thailand.

Local media organisations have been equally harsh. On the eve of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) issued a strong statement criticising government hypocrisy, particularly the pledge made by Thaksin at the beginning of his second term that he would respect press freedom and democracy.

It must be said over and over again that Thaksin has never made any tangible commitment to promoting, let alone protecting, the freedom of expression in Thailand under his unshakeable leadership. He has, however, made several promises to allow the media to do its job.

The TJA is succinct in assessing that the government has failed to keep its promises and has instead been using every trick in the book to meddle with news reporting. The government has even threatened to pull out advertising and buy up shares in media companies. And then there are the expensive defamation lawsuits. The National Press Council of Thailand has also condemned the defamation laws that make criminals of journalists. These local and foreign evaluations of the Thai media have more or less been based on similar procedures. These groups have all examined the level of individual freedom and the legal, political and economic environments to determine the level of press freedom. And all have agreed that the Thaksin government's interference in the media continues unabated and has already become a norm.

Is it possible for a one-party government that controls all aspects of Thai life to let go of the media so it can monitor and check the government? Thaksin's aides, including PM's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva, who oversees the media, have said yes to this question.

The media, they concur, are free to report and analyse whatever they deem necessary. In a similar vein, so goes the conventional wisdom, the government will not shy away from using all available means at its disposal to reward and reprimand the media it sees fit. Self-censorship is not imposed by the government, but comes from the publishers and their teams of reporters.

In his second term, Thaksin has become mellower towards human rights, especially in connection to the killings at Krue Se and Tak Bai. His flexibility and softer approach have been made highly visible through the work of the National Reconciliation Commission.

The prime minister has told the country's attorneys general that Thailand must improve its image as a country that respects human rights. Insiders have said that the prime minister realises that international organisations and Western countries will not forget high-profile violations of human rights, or extrajudicial killings. That helps explain why there has been a renewed effort on the part of the state to follow up on the disappearance of Somchai Neelaphaijit, the Muslim lawyer who disappeared last March.

Having said that, Thaksin has yet to show any appreciation for the role of the media in promoting good governance and democracy, the very values that he said he wants to promote.

It has been accepted all over the world that the media plays a critical role in laying the foundations for developing transparency, accountability, good governance and a respect for human rights. And yet the prime minister has repeatedly failed to create an environment that is conducive to having a free and independent media.

Worst of all, access to information held by the government and other public bodies is increasingly more difficult, and new disclosures have dwindled under Thaksin. The first four years after the access to information law was enacted in 1997 were considered the most open period of the country's proudest democratic moment. Nearly one million Thais learned or experienced the importance of the public right to know.

Like it or not, Thailand's future competitiveness and reputation on the global stage will be directly or indirectly linked to the state of the Thai media.

Kavi Chongkittavorn

The Nation

Wonder who startet the downwards trend?

You can see clearly that the downfall in press freedom started when Thaksin and later his croonies came to power

in 2002 was ranked 65

in 2003 was ranked 82

in 2004 was ranked 59

in 2005 was ranked 107

in 2006 was ranked 122

in 2007 was ranked 135

in 2008 was ranked 124

source

http://www.rsf.org/spip.php?page=rubrique&id_rubrique=2

[grandpops]

Thanks for proving our point Henryallerman.

Whilst Thailand had a slight problem with press freedom under Thaksin, it really took off after the coup and during the rigged elections.... As you so rightly highlighted.

Welcome back to the fold

Edited September 7, 2009 by grandpops

[KhaoNiaw]

Whilst Thailand had a slight problem with press freedom under Thaksin, it really took off after the coup and during the rigged elections.... As you so rightly highlighted.

I would say it highlights a fantastic opportunity that Thaksin had in his hands, only to let it slip away because he was unable to tolerate dissent. The change in his approach to the media from previous governments was very pronounced.

You'd hardly expect anything else following a coup though.

Edited September 7, 2009 by KhaoNiaw