Three steps to total domination

Published on September 16, 2005 - If domination of the print media industry is allowed, it will complete a three-step plan to gain complete control over Thailand, media academics said yesterday.

The plan has been hatched by the ruling clique, including entertainment tycoon Paiboon Damrongchaitham, to ensure it preserves power through control over the government, the economy and the media, they said.

Paiboon’s attempted takeover of two newspaper firms is the last piece of the jigsaw to rein in the country to serve the clique’s vested interests, they said.

“A clique can win an election before wielding governmental power to create an economic monopoly, which is a springboard to control the media industry,” said lecturer Somkiart Pongpaiboon of Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University.

A dark episode of globalisation is happening in Thailand as a group of capitalists is trying to dominate the print media after reining in the broadcasting outlets, Somkiart said.

If the capitalists control the media industry, then they become the real owners of the country because they can manipulate public sentiment, he added.

Suntharee Sengking, coordinator of non-governmental organisations in the Northeast, said she believed the government was behind Paiboon’s takeover attempt.

Activist Bumrung Khayotha said news reports would be skewed to serve vested interests if capitalists gain control of media outlets.

“I suspect that the public will be deprived of accurate news because business-minded operators would put their interests above media professionalism,” he said.

Wanida Tangchitsomkid, student editor of Chiang Mai University’s Ang Kaew newspaper, said the takeover bids were the first step towards influence over editorial content.

In light of concern over the possible changes of ownership of Matichon and Bangkok Post newspapers, the Senate committee for administration will convene a hearing on Thursday.

Representatives of the stock market, the Bank of Thailand, the Thai Journalists Association, the two newspapers, and GMM Grammy Group have been summoned to testify.

The hearing is expected to focus on possible impacts on news reporting.

Democrat Party deputy leader Jurin Laksanavisit urged members of the public to form a united stand in opposition to the attempted takeovers.

“If they can buy into Matichon, then they will move to acquire other media outlets in order to deny the country its free press,” Jurin said.

The Wang Nam Yen faction of the Thai Rak Thai Party was surprised at the unprecedented attempt to take over two major newspapers, said some government MPs, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The faction suspects that the acquisition of the two newspapers would lead to the silencing of views critical of the government.

In yesterday’s House session, several MPs voiced concern over the consequences of the Matichon takeover.

However, Deputy Finance Minister Chaiyot Sasomsub denied speculation that the government was behind the takeover attempt.