Thaksin Manipulating Thai Media: Group

[george]

Thaksin manipulating Thai media: group

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Thailand's billionaire prime minister and his supporters are using their political and financial clout to muzzle the media and intimidate those who criticise the government, a journalists' group said.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and a key member of his Thai Rak Thai party have taken stakes in several radio, newspaper and television companies in recent years, and analysts allege they have tried to manipulate press coverage by threatening reporters and their sources.

"Some newspapers have been trying to check the work of the government ... (but) sources did not dare to express opinions that contradict the government for fear that it would affect their lives, jobs and businesses," the Thai Journalists' Association said in its annual report released Sunday.

"The interference in the work of the Thai media has grown more complicated and subtle and is continuing to eat into the media," the group said. "Government figures are buying shares in media companies and eventually will take over those media companies."

Government officials were not immediately available for comment.

In the past, Thaksin has denied allegations that his government has taken action against journalists in retaliation over critical reports.

Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire former businessman, founded the telecommunications empire Shin Corp. and took a 50 per cent stake in local television network ITV shortly before he was elected in 2000.

Soon afterward, ITV fired 23 journalists who complained that the station's management had pressured them to slant election coverage in favour of Thaksin.

Shin Corp. denies any interference, but analysts say ITV now gives more air time to the prime minister.

Also, media watchdogs expressed concern last month after relatives of Transport Minister Suriya Jungrung-reangkit, who is also secretary-general of Thaksin's party, bought a combined stake of about 20 per cent in the Nation Multimedia Group.

--AFP 2003-12-30

[pnustedt]

A similar situation pertained in HK as the territory prepared for the handover to mainland control (and still does in some newspapers).

This created a market opportunity for a new media group to launch magazines and a newspaper critical of Beijing and the incompetence of the HK administration, and to take the profit from the previously successful media.

I hope that there are entrepenours in LOS who can stand up for what they believe?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

It is a somewhat common happening in Asia. Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, are examples.

[Axel]

During the '92 - 'revolution' THE NATION in Bangkok went beyond themselves. No news close to the truth were available, but the Nation just printed the newspaper with lot's of empty white patches. They did explain, 'whatever is white was cut by censure'. At that time my compliments went to them.

Wonder what happened nowadays.

Whenever T. is upset and bans a magazine, so easy to download from the net or get it by fax from friends.

In Vietnam so, the powers come to my office and check the harddisk. It happened to my staff. US$ 100 solved the problem and tought them how to erase history and caches. Albeit they only had checked the Playboy-site.