A former president of the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) used Facebook on Friday to voice his opposition to a controversial new bill aimed at regulating the media industry, despite authorities claiming earlier the bill had won much support from the Thai media.
Former TJA president Pradit Ruengdit took to social media to disassociate himself and three other reporters from the bill after ACM Kanit Suwannate, chairman of the National Reform Steering Assembly's (NRSA) media reform steering panel, said the move to seek licences for journalists was being enthusiastically received.
According to ACM Kanit, journalists were in agreement with the proposed licensing regulation as it would promote better self-regulation within the industry and enhance its prestige.
Mr Pradit identified the three other dissenting voices as Chakkrit Permpoon, Suwanna Sombatraksasuk and Amornrat Mahitthirook and said they were not supporters of the bill.
The former TJA president said he and these three journalists served on the NRSA's sub-panel on mass communications and information technology but quit on Feb 2 because they strongly disagreed with two elements in the proposed law.
The sub-committee falls under the NRSA's media reform steering panel.
The elements in question were a proposed "national media profession council", which would have senior government officials among its members and be empowered to penalise media outlets that violate codes of conduct; and the licensing of individual journalists.
Mr Pradit refused to identify the media representatives who supported the controversial bill.
The NRSA's sub-committee on print media reform is headed by Prapa Hetrakul Srinualnad, publisher of the Thai-language newspaper Daily News.
The controversial bill is expected to be considered and approved by the NRSA on Monday. It is subject to change as it still has to be submitted to the government and the National Legislative Assembly.
Meanwhile, Poramate Minsiri, founder of Kapook, a leading local content provider, yesterday warned the measure could also curb "citizen reporting", which he said has become an efficient way for people to voice their grievances.