Thai charter gets broadcast boost, but criticism will not be televised

[webfact]

Charter Gets Broadcast Boost, But Criticism Will Not be Televised
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer


Chulalongkorn University lecturer and charter drafter Amorn Wanichwiwatana promotes the charter Friday on public broadcaster Thai PBS.

BANGKOK — The launch of twice daily three-minute TV and radio spots by the junta providing positive, one-sided information has prompted its critics to call for equal airtime for its opponents.

Critics of the junta-sponsored draft charter say that by spoon-feeding the public with the 8am and 6pm broadcasts, the promised referendum will be less than free and fair if opponents are not allowed to air critical views in the months leading up to the promised plebiscite.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1454830008&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2016-02-08

[tbthailand]

the junta providing positive, one-sided information has prompted its critics to call for equal airtime for its opponents.

won't happen.

What is coming will be worse than 2007... much worse.

And the sad thing is that the junta doesn't really care if the referendum doesn't pass. They'll just blame that on "ill intentioned people distorting the truth", and stay in power anyway...

Thailand is hosed...

[mrrizzla]

The revolution will (not) be televised.

[aussieinthailand]

Positive comments are ok and given air time, negative comments are not and so will not be given air time.

Fair, open, balanced, honest, non-bias, equality, inclusive,

Reminds me of the soup Nazi, "NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!" But instead it's and comment Nazi...........

[ggt]

the junta providing positive, one-sided information...there is a word for the dissemination of un-vetted information...

[Laughing Gravy]

And this charter will make the country more democratic.

You couldn't make it up. Hilarious.

[taony]

The reconciliation is complete... there are only positive opinions of the draft charter.

[NongKhaiKid]

The media has been told to discuss the charter ' respectfully ' !

Respectfully is a euphemism for so many other words definitely not in the respectfully category and would include ' threat '.

[Srikcir]

Isn't it premature for the Prayut government to be promoting (with taxpayer funds) the charter that is still under development by the CDC with continued input from the NRSA and NLA? And the NRSA has yet to approve the final draft version that would allow it go to the referendum. Even CDC Chairman Meechai has "reiterated that this is not the final draft of the new constitution" (2016-01-30)

As of February 6^th Prayut admits he has yet to read the current draft. Being key to the constitutional process, Prayut and the NCPO may have further development suggestions for the draft not foreseen by the other reviewers.

Furthermore, Prayut also said on February 6^th that everyone including himself needs to .... "avoid listening to the opinions of those who did not themselves draft the constitution, in order to prevent any confusion." CDC members are the only ones authorized to draft the constitution as per the Interim Charter.

One might argue therefore, that it is inapproporiate and unlawful for anyone other than CDC members to opine on the draft constitution provisions. That would then exclude Prayut, his Cabinet, government officials, the NCPO, NLA and NRSA from promoting the draft. To otherwise promote the draft would make such persons other than CDC members as co-drafters of the constitution.

Why the fine line on who constitutes the charter drafters? Meechai assured that "the charter draft was not engineered to extend the power of the current government ...members of the National Legislative Assembly, the National Reform Steering Assembly, the National Council for Peace and Order and the Cabinet will not be deprived of their political rights [ie., electoral candidates] as they were not directly involved in the charter drafting process." (2016-01-30)

[phoenixdoglover]

The cracks are widening.

[Alwyn]

The media has been told to discuss the charter ' respectfully ' !

Respectfully is a euphemism for so many other words definitely not in the respectfully category and would include ' threat '.

x

Yes, what they mean is "praise the charter" or else (even though it's not yet finished)

[peecee]

the junta providing positive, one-sided information...there is a word for the dissemination of un-vetted information...

It seems to me that Mr Goebbel's handbook still comes in very useful for unelected governments seeking to promote their propaganda messages.