Were you surprised by last week's order not to report about Thaksin and his Thai Rak Thai Party?

I must say I was surprised. I think this will have negative repercussions for the CNS [Council for National Security] because prior to that the CNS received praise from the media about the freer situation compared to the Thaksin era, despite the fact that we are living in a coup epoch.

Both television and radio are regarded as generally less critical or harsh towards the existing powers-that-be compared to the print media. Why would they single out broadcast media?

I think it's aimed at one television channel only, but I don't know why they had to make a blanket statement.

Radio and especially television reach 80 to 90 per cent of the population and although newspapers are more critical of the CNS, their impact cannot match television.

The channel being targeted is watched by many loyal Thaksin supporters and the CNS must have concluded that it's having an impact on the CNS because they repeatedly air Thaksin's views.

How do you think the junta sees the role of the media?

The CNS has the upper hand in that the media was disappointed with the last administration and they believed the CNS would help solve the political crisis. It seems that the CNS is not worried about straight news reporting but about analysis and elaboration of news that would result in confusion amongst the people. That's what the CNS doesn't want to see.

Some say it's good to 'cooperate' with the junta in terms of news restrictions.

It's up to each media. They must think for themselves and consider the CNS' concerns. If they think it's not valid, then they should do what they think is right. I can't judge for them.

There's still military presence in at least a few television stations. How should it be dealt with?

We issued a statement some three weeks ago urging them to leave, but after the bombings on New Year's Eve in Bangkok they said they would beef up the presence of troops to guard us.

The issue is not important, however, because the important thing is to ask whether they're forcing news anchors to read something or not and so far we have received no reports of censorship.

Isn't your association's statement urging fellow journalists and editors to exercise 'caution' a de facto support of the junta's 'request'?

No. Our statement is clear that we do not accept such orders. Don't take it too seriously. It's just about being more careful.

How to you compare the state of broadcast media freedom under Thaksin with the state of it now?

I think it's still better now than under Thaksin. Under Thaksin, people like me or Chirmsak Pinthong could not appear on free TV or even radio. We had to resort to ASTV [owned by Sondhi Limthongkul]. Now we can appear on state-controlled media and criticise the CNS with reasons. It's much better.

Do you expect the current clampdown to escalate or de-escalate?

We must wait and see the impact of the CNS order. I think right now it's already having an impact on state-controlled television and radio stations. It seems to be working and news about Thaksin has been greatly reduced, although it was already falling before. We must see if station managers feel stifled or not.

Foreign advocates of a free press are concerned about the situation.

Whether you're a military regime or an elected one like Thaksin's, you will face such reactions from abroad. Though junta leader General Sonthi [Boonyaratglin] is trying to tone it down, what [CNS secretary-general] General Winai Phattiyakul said earlier was not right. To say that any programme may be taken off the air is like handing a blank cheque to a state-controlled station manager.