Fighting for press freedom 

 Continuing political intervention in the media saw Thailand's press-freedom ranking drop from 107th out of 168 countries in 2005 to 122nd place on the Reporters Without Borders' Worldwide Press Freedom Index. Ironically, the media, especially television and the Internet, continued to be suppressed after the September 19 coup.

Earlier this year, Thai media organisations stood together to fight against all forms of press intimidation. On April 11, all daily publications published a joint editorial entitled "Free media must become a reality".

Part of the joint editorial read: "We, the members of the Kingdom's free press, have taken it upon ourselves to vigorously defend press freedom to the best of our ability, to carry out our duties based on strict adherence to professional ethics, to open ourselves to public scrutiny and the due process of law as law-abiding citizens. But we will never be cowed by threats of violence and intimidation, nor any other form of illegal interference."

Despite the media's united front, the state of Thai press freedom worsened as the year ended. The Reporters Without Borders index, however, did not take into account press freedom under the military regime, as it was based solely on events between September 1, 2005, and September 1, 2006 [see box: Media intimidation after the coup].

Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was accused of using his political and economic power to intervene in the media. Thaksin was accused of intimidating the media through various means, including withdrawal of state or business advertisements, pressuring major shareholders and hostile takeover bids.

Intimidation of the media also came from the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and Thaksin's supporters.

On February 4 and 11, anti-Thaksin protesters attacked an iTV crew whom they accused of serving Thaksin through biased reports about the protests. On March 30, several thousand Thaksin supporters, calling themselves the "Caravan of the Poor", surrounded the headquarters of the Nation Multimedia Group, which owns The Nation, and forced its sister publication Kom Chad Luek to temporarily close down. The protesters were allegedly dissatisfied by a report in Kom Chad Luek which they said contained an inappropriate reference to His Majesty the King.

Freedom - but not for 'fake' media

In September, the new media outlets supporting Thaksin were denounced by mainstream media associations as "fake" media.

On September 4, the Press Council of Thailand, the Thai Journalists Association and the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association issued a joint statement attacking some media outlets, saying they were acting as a mouthpiece for the powers-that-be.

The associations branded thereporter.com, a news website, as a "fake medium" which was set up for propaganda purposes by politicians who supported Thaksin. The professional groups warned people not to believe news stories produced by the "fake media". They said such irresponsible and provocative news outlets would increase the likelihood of violent confrontations in Thai society.

Meanwhile, the website accused members of the three associations of favouring the anti-Thaksin groups, and mostly running news stories sceptical of the Thaksin government.

While the "professionals" and "fake" media organisations waged open war against each other, a group campaigning for freedom of expression supported the associations' stance by stating that although freedom should be for all, freedom for those with politicians behind them, like the so-called "fake media", was problematic. News website editors and media students expressed doubts about the validity of press freedom if it was monopolised by the established mainstream media organisations.

After the coup - elusive press freedom

Though many print media condoned the coup as necessary and the coup leaders as reluctant heroes, the Internet and television appear to be no freer under the interim government of Surayud Chulanont. Soldiers were dispatched to secure all television stations, and as of December 30 armed troops remained at the former Thaksin-owned iTV channel. Three months after the coup, media associations were seemingly unconcerned about such unprecedented military occupation.

Many sites critical of the coup makers, such as midnightuniv.org and 19sep.org, have been blocked and parts of their content destroyed. The last blocking of the 19sep.org website occurred as recently as December 28. The website says it is struggling for freedom of expression and has launched a petition. The situation in cyberspace has gone from bad to worse and a Harvard group of researchers will be visiting Thailand in January to research "free expression and the Internet in Thailand".

However, the print media insists it is mostly freer under the junta now than under Thaksin. Many took delight in the abrupt departure of Thaksin and were visibly lenient towards the coup makers and the new administration. They have been accused by some of willingly giving the junta and its administration a honeymoon period during which bridges would not be burnt through criticism.

Media ethics: a question of professionalism posed by young journalists

The year 2006 was one in which the media faced a dilemma over professionalism, especially during the political crisis. When the coup makers appointed leaders of three media associations to be members of the National Legislative Assembly, a group of 51 young journalists published an open letter urging their senior colleagues not to take the political role.

The young journalists reminded their seniors to adhere to their watchdog role and the media ethic that does not permit journalists to get involved with the powers-that-be. The selected leaders of three media associations, however, defended themselves by saying that press representatives should have a say in the drafting of the new constitution in order to protect press freedom.

Thaksin may be gone, but Thai press freedom remains illusive as it is up against a new group of oppressors.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas,

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation