Long battle for a free Thai press faces new challenges

[webfact]

40TH ANNIVERSARY OF OCTOBER 14 UPRISING
Long battle for a free Thai press faces new challenges
SUTTHIRAK UTTHAMONTRI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- AFTER THE October 14, 1973 student uprising, journalists successfully campaigned for the abrogation of an anti-press-freedom law.

Forty years have passed since then and all the draconian laws seen as inhibiting press freedoms have been abolished - but is the press really enjoying full freedom?

After the student activists managed to topple the dictatorial regime, print journalists, who had been controlled by the regime, called for a guarantee of their freedoms.

They succeeded and gained the guarantees they sought with a promise that the government would not shut down newspapers for political reasons and would not censure newspapers - unless the country was in a state of war or under an emergency situation or martial law.

Forty years ago, the print media played an important role in upholding press freedom because all radio and TV stations were owned by the government and presented one-sided information.

Banyat Tassaneeyavej, a former president of the Thai Journalists Association, said journalists learned about people power from the October 14 event and were motivated by the pro-democracy campaigns to fight for press freedom.

Manich Sooksomchitra, the TJA president in 1974, said the press gained freedom to a certain extent after the uprising - but it was still bound up by the Coup Order No 17.

Pongsak Payakvichien, who was managing editor of the Prachatipatai newspaper in 1973, said it was difficult for journalists to work in those days due to restrictions. Journalists would do their best in accordance to press ethics until the day their papers were shut down by the government, he recounted.

Pongsak said press freedom grew along with the people's liberty and democracy for three years after the uprising, but was restricted again after the crackdown on student activists on October 6, 1976.

The coup enforcers, the National Reform Council, prohibited the publishing of newspapers around the country.

Manich recounted that the coup leader, Admiral Sangad Chaloryu, modified the earlier Coup Order No 17, replacing it with Coup Order No 42 to restrict press freedom further. Order No 42 appointed military press officers to control newspapers.

Manich said newspaper licences were sold at very high prices that year because the government could easily shut down newspapers.

Later on, journalists called for the abrogation of Order No 42, but then-deputy interior minister Snoh Thienthong opposed the call.

Finally, after a series of campaigns by mass-communication academics who pointed out that the coup order restricted the people's freedom, the government of late prime minister Chatichai Choonhavan agreed to abrogate Coup Order No 42.

Today, the power to control the media is shifting from the military and government officials to businesspeople. Manich said there were still efforts to control the media and to interfere in journalistic work by business interests. He said it was now a tough challenge for journalists to survive in the news business without abandoning their principles and media ethics.

Manich said Thai journalists had the most press freedom among ASEAN countries after the abrogation of the 1941 press law - and after the media were allowed professional peer monitoring.

However, he said, Thai journalists are not exercising press freedom to the full because many are worried about their business survival. He noted that the government could now have indirect control over the media through advertising budgets.


-- The Nation 2013-10-10

[tomross46]

Many people died during the student uprising, no matter what PM Samack said. A dictator was overthrown, but since than there have been attempts to set up new dictators. Now 37 years later we have a another form of rebellion. The government calls out 12,000 riot police to protect the Dynasty from 200-300 demonstrators. We will see the press relate the information, but they must be careful, as not to reflect badly on any government person or the police, or they will be punished. Where were the police in 2009-2010? Is this 2013, or 1984?

[AndyFarang]

This is the same as in any country, just look at Britain and the few people who own most of the papers and media. Stories that produce "scandals" are (most of the time I would wager) rolled out in a way that still suits one party or the other (s).

It might help Thai "journalism", if reporters asked questions rather than writing down verbatim all of the bizarre quotes that come out of politicos mouths.....

[noitom]

This is the same as in any country, just look at Britain and the few people who own most of the papers and media. Stories that produce "scandals" are (most of the time I would wager) rolled out in a way that still suits one party or the other (s).

It might help Thai "journalism", if reporters asked questions rather than writing down verbatim all of the bizarre quotes that come out of politicos mouths.....

There you go. The first step is to raise the bar on the level of Thai journalism and standards. It's pointless to encourage more freedom of the press, if the Thai press never does investigative journalism or really track down criminals and stay on the case until police are compelled to act. The Thai press is a sham writing about the same things over and over, copying down sound bites from whoever said what without ever checking and validating sources.

[h90]

Many people died during the student uprising, no matter what PM Samack said. A dictator was overthrown, but since than there have been attempts to set up new dictators. Now 37 years later we have a another form of rebellion. The government calls out 12,000 riot police to protect the Dynasty from 200-300 demonstrators. We will see the press relate the information, but they must be careful, as not to reflect badly on any government person or the police, or they will be punished. Where were the police in 2009-2010? Is this 2013, or 1984?

yesterday when I walked roughtly 100 meter on the street a bit outside in Bangkok I saw 6 cameras mounted.

To answer your question: it is 1984.....

[h90]

This is the same as in any country, just look at Britain and the few people who own most of the papers and media. Stories that produce "scandals" are (most of the time I would wager) rolled out in a way that still suits one party or the other (s).

It might help Thai "journalism", if reporters asked questions rather than writing down verbatim all of the bizarre quotes that come out of politicos mouths.....

There you go. The first step is to raise the bar on the level of Thai journalism and standards. It's pointless to encourage more freedom of the press, if the Thai press never does investigative journalism or really track down criminals and stay on the case until police are compelled to act. The Thai press is a sham writing about the same things over and over, copying down sound bites from whoever said what without ever checking and validating sources.

That is global....There is very little investigative journalism these days.

[gemini81]

there is only mainstream press coming out of Thailand. I'm sure alternative, open press would get shut down fast. Sad really, but there is little demand for real unbiased press here, and there is little resistance to it, and seems most generally believe what they read and go along with it-or simply don't care about things like open, free press. If all we had was CNN, MSNBC, or Fox, we'd know much less.

Edited October 10, 2013 by gemini81

[chainarong]

So long as you have inward looking people looking after affairs of state, then you will have no freedom , of the press. In a proper Democracy you have a set of guide lines that will tell you what you cannot print , but you generally have the freedom of movement, Thailand has no such freedom.

[FarangTalk]

Many people died during the student uprising, no matter what PM Samack said. A dictator was overthrown, but since than there have been attempts to set up new dictators. Now 37 years later we have a another form of rebellion. The government calls out 12,000 riot police to protect the Dynasty from 200-300 demonstrators. We will see the press relate the information, but they must be careful, as not to reflect badly on any government person or the police, or they will be punished. Where were the police in 2009-2010? Is this 2013, or 1984?

Not to forget that the same military dictator; Thanom Kittikachorn, was appointed to an honourary position by former PM and Democrat party chairman Chuan Leekpai in the 90's. Chuan is of course Abhisit Vejijiva's mentor.

Thanom's funeral was also paid for and attended by some very influential people.

[FarangTalk]

This is the same as in any country, just look at Britain and the few people who own most of the papers and media. Stories that produce "scandals" are (most of the time I would wager) rolled out in a way that still suits one party or the other (s).

It might help Thai "journalism", if reporters asked questions rather than writing down verbatim all of the bizarre quotes that come out of politicos mouths.....

Britain has some excellent investigative journalists and high quality media.

Two such journalists working in Thailand are Andrew Drummond and Andrew MacGregor Marshall, the latter of course cannot return to Thailand because of his work.

Also recall the threats of LM against BBC regional journalist Jonathan Head, that caused him to leave the country for merely reporting the facts as he saw them.

[h90]

there is only mainstream press coming out of Thailand. I'm sure alternative, open press would get shut down fast. Sad really, but there is little demand for real unbiased press here, and there is little resistance to it, and seems most generally believe what they read and go along with it-or simply don't care about things like open, free press. If all we had was CNN, MSNBC, or Fox, we'd know much less.

Not true: You have ASTV, you have that 13something channel.

But they aren't independent as well....

[Puwa]

Of course there is investigative journalism here. Take a look at http://thaipublica.org/

[gemini81]

This is the same as in any country, just look at Britain and the few people who own most of the papers and media. Stories that produce "scandals" are (most of the time I would wager) rolled out in a way that still suits one party or the other (s).

It might help Thai "journalism", if reporters asked questions rather than writing down verbatim all of the bizarre quotes that come out of politicos mouths.....

Britain has some excellent investigative journalists and high quality media.

Two such journalists working in Thailand are Andrew Drummond and Andrew MacGregor Marshall, the latter of course cannot return to Thailand because of his work.

Also recall the threats of LM against BBC regional journalist Jonathan Head, that caused him to leave the country for merely reporting the facts as he saw them.

You forgot the prodigious works of one who is a poster on here, 555.

[HeavyDrinker]

Two such journalists working in Thailand are Andrew Drummond...

Are you serious? When he's not bickering with certain people in Pattaya, he's bickering with other people in Pattaya....

[FarangTalk]

Two such journalists working in Thailand are Andrew Drummond...

Are you serious? When he's not bickering with certain people in Pattaya, he's bickering with other people in Pattaya....

His confrontations with certain petty criminality aside, he has provided some valuable services and information to expats.

[jpeg]

Also recall the threats of LM against BBC regional journalist Jonathan Head, that caused him to leave the country for merely reporting the facts as he saw them.

Oh please! Jonathan Head?! Look back through the archives and see how many members here were jumping up and down re his 'reporting from his hotel balcony'. A more misleading description of events couldn't've been made up. Ah yes! They were. 'Taksin, champion of Thailand's poor, having been removed by the elite ...' blah blah. The 'elite' were mostly middle class with a lot of admittedly pro-monarchist poor who'd been told, correctly IMHO, that Taksin, wanted to become Thailand's first President. After all, look at what's unfolding now. Head! Pfft!

Edited October 10, 2013 by jpeg

[HeavyDrinker]

^ It wasn't a hotel balcony but the FCCT's balcony....

[HeavyDrinker]

Two such journalists working in Thailand are Andrew Drummond...

Are you serious? When he's not bickering with certain people in Pattaya, he's bickering with other people in Pattaya....

His confrontations with certain petty criminality aside, he has provided some valuable services and information to expats.

So does this site. I quite liked his writing until he got drawn into so many personal agendas...

[jpeg]

^ It wasn't a hotel balcony but the FCCT's balcony....

I stand corrected, The Faeces Correspondents Club Of Thailand

Edited October 10, 2013 by jpeg

[kimamey]

This is the same as in any country, just look at Britain and the few people who own most of the papers and media. Stories that produce "scandals" are (most of the time I would wager) rolled out in a way that still suits one party or the other (s).

It might help Thai "journalism", if reporters asked questions rather than writing down verbatim all of the bizarre quotes that come out of politicos mouths.....

I don't know much about those behind the press in Thailand but you are right about the British press. The thing about the press in the UK is that it's allowed to be biased. This is actually what people often like. The will buy a paper that whilst it isn't permitted to lie it can do as a lawyer does and present information that shows their good side and the opposition's bad side. Overall it's fairly balanced if you read them all as they take both sides but that's often not what people want from a newspaper.

There are more restrictions on broadcast media so they have to be more balanced. There's also the fact that it's much easier now to get information and opinion out using the internet. The difficulty is knowing how accurate it is.

As I said I don't know much about the background of the Thai media. The parts I tend to see as an English speaker are the English language papers like the Nation and the Bangkok Post which are often cited as being against the current government and in line with many on this forum. Is there anywhere to get an unbiased view of the what's going on in the country?

If anyone has any more information on the Thai media it would be interesting to hear.

[khunken]

Yes, the Thai press is far from perfect but, in it's defence, it has to operate under heavy constraints.

The main constraint is the defamation laws which are used to make sure that public figures are above the law. Reporting on, for example, corruption would necessitate name changes & initials being used thereby making a report comical or next to useless.

Second is the Lese Majeste law which prevents the press from even printing what an accused is alleged to have said.

Remember the Bangkok Post journalist driven out of his job for correctly reporting on cracks in the Swampy runway? Any journalist has to remember that pressure on his bosses from politicians can lose him or her his/her job. Thaksin even threatened to take over the Nation & Bangkok Post with the help of some of his rich cronies - intimidation at work.

Local news here is driven by rumour, leaks from insiders, police spokespeople who substitute opinion for fact & total BS from politicians who don't allow questions (or just walk away).

[A1Str8]

Free press and media. What happened to these people again? It's not free. It's not supposed to be free. It was created and has been influenced by people who don't want it to have freedom.