Two groups representing media professionals cried foul yesterday over the "intimidation" being used to obstruct news coverage of the political stand-off.

"The freedom to report pertinent views on public issues is deemed essential to foster understanding in society," the Thai Journalists' Association and the Thai Broadcasting Journalists' Association said in a joint statement.

While society is engulfed with fractious politics, the powers-that-be appeared bent on intimidating the media to serve their vested interest, the statement said.

Recent acts of media intimidation had raised concern among media professionals, it said.

These included the dismissal of anchorman Boonyod Sukthinthai from a morning news programme aired on Channel 3.

Boonyod's dismissal came in the wake of his reports being viewed as critical of government leaders.

A radio talk-show run by journalists Yuwadee Thanyasiri and Ampa Santimethaneedol was also abruptly cancelled by a station concessionaire. The show held phone-ins, which allowed people to air their views on the government.

And Somchai Yodmalai, morning news editor for Channel 9, lost his position because certain government leaders were displeased with news clips he approved.

With regard to print media outlets, evidence indicated that a group of motorcycle taxi drivers had been paid to lodge a complaint against Naew Na newspaper.

A group of protesters also marched to The Nation's editorial office on Tuesday and accused it of publishing biased reports even though none of them could cite a specific news item deemed unacceptable.

Many government leaders, including caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, tried to sway the public into believing media professionals were being unfair towards the government.

In a separate move, a Channel 9 news crew protested over media interference, as evidenced by the transfer of Somchai from his editorial duty. They called for the station's managers to rally behind the news team to safeguard media freedom.