Media organizations up in arms against media restriction bill

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Thirty media organizations have demanded the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) to scrap a bill proposed by a panel to the assembly seeking to rein in the media and to restrict freedom of the media.

 

Representatives of the 30 media bodies met on Sunday at the Thai Journalists Association office to discuss the bill called, Promotion of Media Freedom, Ethics and Media Professional Standard, and to map out a joint strategy to fight against the controversial bill.

 

Thepchai Yong, president of Broadcast Media Journalists Association, said after the meeting that the 30 media organizations were unanimous in their opposition against the bill and wanted the NRSA to scrap the bill.

 

He said the 30 media bodies agreed that the bill was not based on the principle of free expressions and respect of media freedom but, instead, sought to pave the way for state interference in the performance of duty of the media and to restrict press freedom.

 

Under the bill, a media steering committee will be formed with four of the 13 committee seats to be reserved for permanent secretaries from the Finance, Culture, Digital for Economy and Society, and PM’s Office. On top of that the four permanent secretaries who represent the government can appoint two more committee members from the academia.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/media-organizations-arms-media-restriction-bill/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-01-30

Media outlets oppose new law
By KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Journalists say professional council overseeing sector would be vulnerable to political interference; urge NRSA to drop draft.

 

MEDIA ORGANISATIONS nationwide issued a joint statement yesterday against the media regulation bill, calling on the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) to drop the draft and threatening to step up their opposition to the measures until their voices are heard.

 

But the NRSA members insisted that they would continue pushing the draft, saying it would be benefit media outlets.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30305244

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-01-30

3 hours ago, webfact said:

the assembly seeking to rein in the media and to restrict freedom of the media.

Completely unacceptable!

Kim nation, here we come...

"the 30 media organizations were unanimous in their opposition against the bill "

 

The wisdom of those running this business sector won't stop this government.  

 

Committees are far easier to form than overhauling the legal system. 

At some point you have to wonder how all this could lead to people claiming asylum in other countries. 

 

No free speech, press restrictions, voting very suspect, military junta , etc.

 

Makes me think wont have to worry about any settlement visa for my wife, she can just claim asylum !

The Junt'a overreach is staggering; they'e turned the clock back to 1950. 

 

Sherman, set the way-back machine for 1750.

Now there are already two groups desperately hoping Bangkok will become another Geneva.

I wonder how many of the people in the photo already keep filled out application forms for political asylum in their drawers. 

"the 30 media organizations were unanimous in their opposition against the bill "

...and then...

''But the NRSA members insisted that they would continue pushing the draft, saying it would be benefit media outlets.''

So the NRSA members know more about running media outlets than the owners of said media outlets

"...NRSA would continue pushing draft, saying it would benefit media outlets...Media Professional Council, a key feature of proposed bill, would play a crucial role in regulation of the press,..The council could revoke a group’s licence if practitioners failed to comply with regulations..."

 

I suppose this is how the junta and its cronies interpret "professional ethics" in Section 35 of their so-called "people's" Constitution, viz:

A person of mass media profession shall enjoy the liberty to report news or express opinion in compliance with professional ethics.

 

I suppose this is how the junta and its cronies interpret "professional ethics" in Section 35 of their so-called "people's" Constitution, viz

 

Many, many, many of the nearly 300 "articles" have similarly couched caveats re: individual's rights be they commoners, or members of the media.

 

I think that's the whole point, have some vague words then leave it up the "good people" (via "organic laws", the judiciary) to interpret those "rights" as they see fit.

 

Democracy you'll love, or else.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 30, 20179 yr by mtls2005

28 minutes ago, SABloke said:

"the 30 media organizations were unanimous in their opposition against the bill "

...and then...

''But the NRSA members insisted that they would continue pushing the draft, saying it would be benefit media outlets.''

So the NRSA members know more about running media outlets than the owners of said media outlets

'Your objections are noted. Tough sh!t.'

Still, hang around as soon we should see a few posters stand up, applaud this and any other junta imposed restriction and explain to us the error of our ways. And call us names...

There is no freedom of the press in any Asian country, so this shouldn't come as a surprise.

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Representatives of the 30 media bodies met on Sunday at the Thai Journalists Association office to discuss the bill called, Promotion of Media Freedom, Ethics and Media Professional Standard,

Just brings tears to my eyes speechless. Its a slow grind downward the same as in the "Peoples" Republic of China. All for the better good?

3 hours ago, baboon said:

So the NRSA members know more about running media outlets than the owners of said media outlets

Listen to Frank Sinatra's theme song on this one "My Way" or the highway. 

3 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

individual's rights be they commoners,

and the story ends here. 

3 hours ago, waldroj said:

in compliance with professional ethics.

That is the zinger wildly open to interpretation by whom so ever is in power and well we all know who that will be. 

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Promotion of Media Freedom, Ethics and Media Professional Standard

how very 1984 of the NRSA... 

Don't let Trump see this

7 hours ago, disambiguated said:

There is no freedom of the press in any Asian country, so this shouldn't come as a surprise.

Well, according to this website both Japan and Taiwan are getting passing grades:

 

https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/freedom-press-2016?gclid=CLfJvP_T6dECFYiLswodszIMnw

The Junta clearly has no understanding of what a democracy is and doesn't seem to care!


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