Government can disagree with media reform bill, says Wissanu

[webfact]

Government can disagree with media reform bill, says Wissanu 
By The Nation

 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam

 

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Tuesday that it was possible for the government to disagree with the media regulation draft bill proposed by the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) before it forwarded the document to the Council of the State, its legal arm, to amend.

 

The media asked Wissanu about that possibility before attending the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

 

Wissanu said every draft bill was subject for review to determine if they were in line with the constitution and those they were not would be scrapped.

 

Wissanu said he could not say if the media regulation draft bill violated the new charter’s Article 35, which guaranteed press freedom, as he had not seen the bill.

 

He said he had no problem discussing the issue with media representatives. However, the government had not yet received the draft bill.

 

The NRSA voted in favor of the draft bill on Monday despite the media labelling the bill an infringement on press freedom, including via the proposed media professional council.

 

The council would have at least two top state officials on it, along with representatives from other sectors.

 

There would also be a media accreditation and certification system.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30314013

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-05-02

[jesimps]

Don't like his taste in caps.