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For example, Matichon said, there were concerns whether the government would have enough money to finance the free education programme. Finance Ministry officials said the government might have to use off-budget money. However, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the government did not plan to seek off-budget money for the plan.

Matichon said that people and government agencies wanted to help the government tackle the economic crisis by offering their suggestions. Nonetheless, different statements and different opinions showed that the country is facing an issue over the true facts in a number of areas, and that the government and officials often made conflicting statements.

Matichon said that the discrepancy over facts is just one of the problems that Thailand faces. Economic figures aside, Thailand is enduring the political crisis because people do not know what information is correct and which side is speaking the truth.

If the government really wants to solve the political and economic problems, it should be honest with the public. Then, solutions based on reliable facts would be effective and efficient.

Thai Post meanwhile questioned in its editorial whether the call for the resumption of D Station (television) would be tantamount to a call for the return of freedom of speech.

Thai Post referred to the plan by red-shirt protesters to rally again this week to urge the government to re-open the signal for D Station.

Thai Post said that the red-shirt protesters believe the suspension of D Station is equivalent to a violation of the freedom of speech. The red shirts also accuse Prime Minister Abhisit of using a double standard in managing the media. For instance, ASTV, the TV channel that broadcast the yellow-shirt campaign, is still on air.

D Station is under the auspices of the National Telecommunications Commission while ASTV is under the Public Relations Department. But Thai Post argued that that does not explain the different treatment of the two agencies and stations. In fact, the government or even the NTC, should inform the public that D Station was suspended because the content of its programmes violated Article 116 of the Criminal Code. Its subject matter was deemed to have influenced members of the public to instigate social disturbances and riots, with fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra operating behind the scenes.

Thai Post said that the argument by the red shirts is not acceptable, and that eventually the government would have to ask the NTC to consider the case. The NTC would have to show courage in reaching its conclusion if it does not want to see the TV medium becoming a tool for those who want to hurt the country.

Nonetheless, D Station's management is entitled to ask the NTC to review its decision under the condition that the station would not violate Article 116 again. Thai Post said that a democratic society is governed by the rule of law. No organisation or individual should serve anyone's interest at the expense of the rule of law.