Media demand clear guidelines

Media demand clear guidelines

The country's two main media organisations urged the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on Friday to clarify its stand on what journalists can and can't do as the junta tried to calm concerns about increased censorship.

Editors and executives of media organisations meet with NCPO secretary-general Gen Udomdej Seetabutr and ML Panadda Diskul, the permanent secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, at the Royal Thai Army Club on Friday. (Photo by Phrakrit Juntawong)

The Thai Journalists Association and Thai Broadcast Journalists Association outlined their concerns in an open letter after the junta formed five panels to monitor the content of all forms of media on Wednesday.

They are seeking clarification from Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, the former national police chief who is overseeing the new media mission of the military regime.

The five panels should spell out the guidelines they intend to follow in carrying out their duties, the associations said.

Their main concern is that the junta's view of what constitutes news reports likely to stir unrest differs from that of most other people.

They cited the example of a "visit" paid by authorities on Wednesday to the newsroom of the Thai-language newspaper Khom Chad Luek and Nation TV. An attempt was made to persuade the two Nation Multimedia affiliates not to report on the activities of former Pheu Thai Party leader Charupong Ruangsuwan and his anti-coup Organisation of Free Thais for Human Rights and Democracy (FT-HD).

Speaking at Government House on Friday, Pol Gen Adul insisted the NCPO had no intention to curb media freedom. He said he hoped journalists would report events in line with the NCPO policy that focuses on reconciliation in the country.

Reporting false information would lead to a meeting or a warning from the council, the deputy NCPO chief said.

At the Army Club, 46 editors and media executives pressed their case further in a meeting with Udomdej Seetabutr, the NCPO secretary-general, and ML Panadda Diskul, the permanent secretary to the Prime Minister's Office.

Gen Udomdej tried to allay their fears, saying that the five panels would support the mass media. He expressed hope that reporters would send the right message to the public, NCPO spokeswoman Col Sirichan Nga-thong said after the meeting.

Media freedom would not be disturbed and journalists could continue in their roles, she added.

"The NCPO does not want the media to stand by its side. The NCPO only wants the media to stand by Thailand and all Thais," she said.

The NCPO on Wednesday said the five panels were intended to help prevent the media from becoming tools to distribute false information that would stir up violence or provoke public hatred against the monarchy.

They have separate responsibilities for monitoring content in radio broadcasts, television, print, online and social media, and foreign media.

The panels will report to NCPO chief Prayuth Chan-ocha immediately if false information about the NCPO’s work is found in the media, Pol Gen Adul said.

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