While a student group called Dome Daeng launched an online petition demanding rector Suraphol Nitikraipoj decide which side he belongs to, media academic Piyakul Lawansiri criticised three media figures who have agreed to sit in the assembly for betraying the media's honour and professionalism.

The NLA issue has set the academic community on fire over Suraphol's perceived offending of Thammasat's spirit of fighting for democracy. The Dome Daeng Group's petition - at www.petitiononline.com/domedang/petition.html - urged Suraphol to resign from the NLA or step down as rector.

"Historically, Thammasat University has always been a political space for and a symbol of the struggle for democracy since it was founded by Pridi Panomyong. The rector's involvement with the coup in one way or another would be considered as supporting the coup and being part of propping up its power," it said.

The group also said Suraphol's joining the NLA would shake up the university's administration.

"As rector, your decision to take a seat in the NLA is not in accordance with the will and acceptance of the Thammasat community, although there are different opinions in this regard. For the sake of transparency and sincerity, you should opt to take only one position," the group said.

Piyakul, former dean of Thammasat's journalism faculty, said that though one might feel honoured to be selected for the NLA and journalism ethics isn't clear about journalists sitting in the legislature, the media should realise that they have a greater honour and role to play outside the assembly.

The media has to be neutral and has a duty to provide accurate and comprehensive reports to the public.

Piyakul said pushing for press freedom from within the NLA by media members themselves would devalue the profession and backfire.

Early this month 20 journalists and media representatives were appointed to the 242-strong NLA. Their acceptance has become a controversial issue among press members, media specialists and activists. Most criticisms are targeted at the three members representing large media associations - Press Council chairwoman Banyat Tassaneeyavej, Thai Journalists Association chairman Pattara Khampitak and Broadcast Journalists Association chairman Somchai Sawangkarn.

A group of 51 young journalists has issued a statement urging their senior counterparts to resign from the NLA. They said they believe what they have always been taught - that the media is a watchdog and should keep a distance from the powers that be and avoid conflicts of interest.

The NLA media members said that as media representatives in the NLA, they were fully aware of their roles and responsibilities and would use the opportunity to bolster press freedom.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

The Nation