The organisations were also concerned that broadcast media professionals might be dominated by state power or capitalists in the selection of 15 representatives to join the National People's Assembly as sought by the Council for National Security (CNS).

Secretary general of the National Press Council of Thailand, Chawarong Limpattamapani, said after a meeting of the Press Council, the Thai Journalists Association, the Broadcast Journalists Association and three other media organisations that NLA members still had more choices than the few candidates reported.

Other front-runners included Thammasat University rector Surapon Nitikraipot, as well as former Constitution Court judge Suchit Boonbongkarn, and a secretary-general of a transparency-promoting organisation, Juree Vichit-vadakarn.

The media professionals selected to be NLA members are Press Council chairwoman Banyat Tassaneeyavej, Thai Journalists Association chairman Pattara Khampitak and Broadcast Journalists Association chairman Somchai Sawangkarn.

Banyat, Pattara and Somchai were pressured by some colleagues to choose between their positions as media professionals or members of the NLA.

The CNS also asked the print media to send 15 representatives to join the National People's Assembly.

The People's Assembly's 2,000 members will vote among themselves for 200 candidates - 100 of whom will be picked by the CNS to make up the Constitution Drafting Assembly.