Thai Constitution: Idea on media assets dropped

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CONSTITUTION WATCH
Idea on media assets dropped
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH,
KHANITTHA THEPPAJORN
THE NATION

Most charter drafters say this might be going a step too far as laws on media scrutiny already exist

BANGKOK: -- THE CONSTITUTION Drafting Committee (CDC) yesterday toyed with the idea of requiring media professionals to declare their assets, but the proposal was eventually dismissed.

In the meeting yesterday, CDC worked on drafting articles on national reform, national reconciliation, the mass media, environment and reforms to natural resources. It also invited the two National Reform Council (NRC) members, Pradit Ruangdit and Wason Paileeklee, who are responsible for media reform, to join the discussion and provide useful information on the issue.

One CDC member raised the issue of companies trying to interfere with media organisations through takeover attempts, and said the authorities should pay attention to this as it does not just affect the media's independence but also the rights of the people.

This is when another CDC member suggested that media professionals should declare their assets to the media regulator in a move to promote financial transparency. However, this suggestion was met with opposition, with many CDC members reasoning that the provision on getting media professionals to declare their assets would overburden the charter and the drafters will be seen as going too far.

Even the NRC members present at the meeting said this stipulation would be going too far.

One of the charter drafters reminded the NRC and CDC that getting journalists to declare their assets was not part of media reform, and said they should instead focus on long-term solutions. The proposal was eventually dismissed.

A CDC member later pointed out that the charter already allows media organisations to scrutinise state agencies or private firms if they move to interfere in media organisations. The charter also empowers the public to monitor media organisations, as it is the people who are directly impacted by reading or absorbing news and information.

The committee also resolved to push for several other laws, such as the one on strengthening media protection and another to create a mechanism that prevents interference. They also agreed upon drafting a law that grants public access to government information so people can observe and scrutinise government agencies' work.

As for cases in which people are affected by the media's misinterpretation of reports or false information, the CDC resolved that the matter would be studied by each media agency.

Meanwhile, the CDC has completed the drafts on national resources and environment and will analyse the matter further.

The drafters also agreed that the issue of national resources and environment were very important for the country and its people's wellbeing. Thailand's forest cover has reduced rapidly over the past 30 years, far below those of developed countries like Japan, which maintains forest cover of about 70 per cent of its total land mass. In addition, industrial development means more waste and chemical toxins end up in water resources, which directly affect people's health.

Most of the drafters agreed with these concerns, but many said laws related to these issues already exist and some of them overlap one another.

The committee then resolved to set up a subcommittee to further scrutinise existing laws on environment and natural resources, so new policies can be created or old ones synchronised with one another.

Some CDC members also pointed out that there were some legal loopholes in this area. For instance, the law allows an agency to get the government to import waste and trash from other countries for recycling purposes, but in reality this might just be a means to request government funds. The new sub-panel will scrutinise all loopholes that allow things like this to happen and find ways to eradicate corruption.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Idea-on-media-assets-dropped-30254390.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-19

[Srikcir]

"media's independence but also the rights of the people"

CDC's concern is either two-faced or plain ignorant. Media independence and rights of people currently does NOT exist under Article 44 of the Interim Charter and under martial law. Gen. Prayuth has demonstrated repeatedly not only his disrepsect for investigative journalism but also for People's freedom of expression, and has served out punishments for actions that personally displease him.

How is any constitution going to prevent the perversion of media independence and people's rights when an elite group can at the time of their choosing overthrow the Thai people? The CDC needs to start with the premise that Thais are not a tool of the military but that the military is a tool of the people.

[facthailand]

Hmm... Have the Constitution drafters registered their assets???