The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is expected to review its controversial directive seen to be curbing the media's freedom of expression.
Permanent secretary for defence Gen Surasak Kanchanarat, who is in charge of the NCPO's reform campaign, met representatives of four media organisations on Monday to discuss the NCPO's Announcement No.97. They were the Thai Journalists Association (TJA), the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, the National Press Council of Thailand and the News Broadcasting Council of Thailand.
Pradit Ruangdit, president of the Thai Journalists Association and a Bangkok Post staff reporter, is discussing the draconian NCPO order on the media with military officials.
After the meeting, TJA president Pradit Ruangdit said NCPO chief Prayuth Chan-ocha conveyed concerns through Gen Surasak about a backlash after the announcement. This prompted Gen Prayuth to assign Gen Surasak to hold the meeting to hear the media's views, Mr Pradit said.
UPDATE: Monday night, the junta issued a new Order No. 103, amending the original order to allow "honest criticism, with good faith intentions" of its actions by the media and commenters.
The new order also changed the punishment from Order No.97, which had promised shutdowns for the media involved. Under the revised order, journalists who violate the "honest criticism" edict will be reported to one of the country's four journalism group for handling of the dispute.
Mr Pradit, who is also a senior reporter for the Bangkok Post, said the media feels uncomfortable with the directive, especially Item 5 of the announcement, adding that the media organisations wanted the NCPO to revise or scrap it.
Item 5 stipulates an immediate ban on the sale, distribution or broadcast of reports seen as threatening national security, defaming others, and criticising the NCPO's operations. Media outlets broadcasting such reports face legal action.
Mr Pradit said Item 3, which bans criticism of the NCPO's operations and staff, has made it difficult for the media to carry out their duties and should be amended.
He said there are already laws and professional ethics that regulate the media, although strict enforcement may be required to ensure full compliance by members of the media.
Some media professionals have failed to comply with the media's professional ethics and exploited their careers for personal gain, which in turn reflects badly on their colleagues as a whole, Mr Pradit said.
But he said the permanent secretary for defence has hinted at a possible review of Announcement No.97.
Earlier report: NCPO to review Order 97
Speaking before the meeting, Gen Surasak said the NCPO realises members of the media are uncomfortable with the directive, adding that he was ready to listen to their views and will relay their proposals to the NCPO chief.
The NCPO has granted soldiers, provincial governors, and city and provincial police chiefs powers to shut down media outlets that disobey the directives.