Is 'Truth Today' hurting the government?

Officially a private company produces the show, which is broadcast on the state-run NBT channel, under a lease agreement with the Public Relations Department. Actually, however, it is a mouthpiece for Thaksin and the ruling People Power Party.

The show is hosted by politicians Veera Musigapong and Jatuporn Phromphan - both affiliated to the PPP - with government spokesman Nattawut Saikua appearing as "guest speaker" from time to time.

The nightly talk show is also used as a channel to counter - in a tit-for-tat fashion - attacks from such political enemies as anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy, which in turn uses media outlets like ASTV.

The talk show also serves as a channel of communication between Thaksin and his red-shirted army, and also "corrects" any "damaging misinformation" about the ex-leader.

"The programme is clearly being used as a base for political battles, especially nowadays when [the government side] is at a disadvantage. The programme's content is always in line with what is agreed upon in the PPP's war room," said a PPP source.

A third "Truth Today" mobile gathering is scheduled for November 23, this time at either the Suan Kaew temple in Nonthaburi or the Suppachalasai Stadium in Bangkok, and Thaksin will once again be addressing his supporters on the phone.

Now, Thaksin's brother-in-law Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has been preaching social reconciliation, so it remains to be seen if his government will renew the contract with Puen Phong Nong Phi or Friends and Brothers, who are the producers of "Truth Today". The lease contract expires next month.

According to an NBT source, the contract will definitely be renewed because "it was already agreed upon".

Obviously, the ruling party is playing a supporting role behind the show organisers' mobilisation of "red-shirted people".

That's why there's really no need to take permission from Somchai, who continues to try and convince people that he wants social reconciliation, when his government is going the exact opposite way. Perhaps the prime minister prefers to use the double-faced strategy, which may be considered normal in politics but will certainly have a negative impact on the government.

A recent Abac survey has already discovered that the administration's credibility has dropped after Thaksin's phone-in on November 1. One can't help but wonder what his second phone in would do to the government's image.