Media groups want to ensure free press

Published on September 19, 2005 - The failed takeover bid for Matichon will have flow-on effects this week. Many organisations announced at the weekend that they would explore means to stop moves to muzzle the mass media occurring again. The Press Council of Thailand plans to invite newspaper editors to discuss long-term ways to protect the free press.

The council’s secretary-general, Chavarong Limpattamapanee, said yesterday the aborted takeover bid showed that businesses with political connections want to move in to control newspapers.

As a result, editors would have to seek out ways to ensure long-term protection of the free press.

He did not give any timeframe for the discussion, saying only that it would be held soon.

The occasion would also be used to consider raising the ethical and working standards of the press, he said, as society had shown that it had a high expectation of newspapers “as the last institution to monitor and check against abuses of power by the government and injustice in society”.

In another development, Thammasat University’s faculty of journalism and mass communication will hold a seminar today on the threat to the people’s right to free information posed by businesses affiliated with politics.

Meanwhile, an opinion survey has found that the aborted takeover of Matichon was a wakeup call to many people about the importance of the mass media. The survey was conducted by Rajabhat Institute Suan Dusit among 1,431 residents of Bangkok and nearby provinces at the weekend.

When asked what lessons had been learnt from the case, 48 per cent of respondents said society had been alerted to the importance of the media.

The institute said 18 per cent of respondents said the moves showed unity among the media against any attempt to control them, while 17 per cent said it showed unity among Matichon readers and other Thais.

The remaining respondents said the failed takeover showed that money could not buy everything.

Meanwhile, the Democrat Party will discuss the takeover moves at a party meeting tomorrow.

Democrat Party spokesman Ongart Klampaiboon said yesterday the party would discuss measures to prevent any future attempt by businesses to take over or control the mass media, as well as preventing interference in journalists’ works published in any form of media. He said the Democrats might propose legal amendments or sponsor a new bill covering desirable measures.

The Chat Thai Party said yesterday the government should join non-government groups to organise a study of new laws or regulations to prevent interference in the press.