JournalismPakistan.com | Published September 15, 2016
Join our WhatsApp channel
BANGKOK - Thailand's military-appointed National Reform Steering Assembly should scrap proposed legislation that would create a new national media regulator, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. The draft bill, the latest in a raft of military-imposed measures that restrict press freedom, is now being considered by a government sub-panel tasked with implementing media reforms.
If passed into law, the bill would establish a new 11-member Media Professional Council of Thailand with discretionary powers to impose legally binding administrative penalties, including fines, for breaches of a state-determined media code of conduct, according to news reports. The assembly's media reform committee, chaired by Air Chief Marshal Kanit Suwannete, outlined the bill's broad intent during discussions this month with independent local media groups, reports said. Maximum penalties under the proposed law have not yet been determined, a participant in the closed meeting told CPJ, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid jeopardizing negotiations.
"Thailand has more than enough laws, orders, and regulations to govern the media," said Shawn Crispin, CPJ's senior Southeast Asia representative. "Thailand's reform assembly would do better to abolish all the military orders that have curbed free expression, and to propose laws that restore and protect press freedoms eroded under military rule."
Thai media groups - including the Thai Journalists Association, the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, the National Press Council of Thailand, the News Broadcasting Council of Thailand, the Online News Providers Association, and the Thailand Cable TV Association -- believe that the proposed council could be subject to interference from politicians or officials to harass critical news outlets, according to press reports. The groups said the proposed body's power to impose penalties for violations risked promoting self-censorship.
The six professional groups today presented a joint letter addressed to Kanit, the head of the media reform committee, opposing the proposed legislation. Chavarong Limpattamapanee, secretary general of the National Press Council of Thailand and a signatory to the joint letter, told CPJ that the professional associations had told the military officer that the letter requested the military officer to allow the media to regulate itself without further threats of administrative penalties.
The bill's proponents, quoted in local media reports, have argued that partisan media outlets, which are not members of existing professional groups, have fuelled the country's decade-long political conflict through irresponsible reporting, and that new, binding regulatory mechanisms are needed before democracy is restored. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has vowed to hold new polls by late 2017, after instituting what he describes as political reforms.
Thailand's broadcast media is already tightly regulated and heavily self-censored, CPJ research shows. The state-run National Telecommunications and Broadcasting Commission (NTBC), a regulatory body, has enforced broad censorship directives, outlined in orders No. 97/2557 and No. 103/2557, against news reporting that could "create confusion, instigate unrest or deepen divisions among people," or be deemed as "malicious" or "misleading" about the ruling National Council for Peace and Order junta or its actions.
In July, the NTBC was empowered to shutter media outlets, without the right of appeal, for reasons of national security. The executive order, No. 41/2559, allows the commission to block any broadcast news or information it deems "detrimental to the political system, or [that] may destabilize national stability or damage the moral values of the people," reports said. Those powers have been used to pressure news stations to censor and suspend critical broadcasters, CPJ research shows. - By Committee to Protect Journalists
October 03, 2024: Veteran journalists condemn threats made by TLP leader Anas Rizvi against senior journalist Azaz Syed, urging the government to take immediate action to ensure his safety and protect press freedom.
September 30, 2024: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned an attack on journalists in Karachi by religious party workers, calling for an FIR and immediate arrests of the perpetrators.
September 30, 2024: Dr. Saadia Kamal has made history by becoming the first female president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ-Workers), a significant milestone for her career and Pakistani journalism. Learn about her exceptional journey, years of service, leadership in various media roles, and dedication to ethical journalism.
September 28, 2024: The winners of the Pakistan RTI Quiz Contest 2024, organized by the Pakistan Information Commission and the Press Network of Pakistan, have been announced. Promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance, the quiz highlighted the importance of the Right to Information and citizen empowerment.
September 28, 2024: Explore the alarming rise of online trolling and harassment faced by women journalists in Pakistan, highlighting recent cases involving anchors like Shiffa Z. Yousafzai and Asma Chaudhry. This article delves into the societal challenges these women encounter and the urgent need for action against online abuse
September 27, 2024: TV anchor Shiffa Z. Yousafzai has refuted false rumors about her marriage, calling attention to the harassment working women face in a male-dominated society. She urges social media platforms to remove false content and calls people to stand against such targeting.
September 26, 2024: The Information Department Lahore has issued letters to cancel the declarations of numerous newspapers in Punjab, sparking concerns about press freedom, particularly in South Punjab. The delayed notification has raised questions about transparency and the future of local journalism.
September 26, 2024: A UN expert calls on Kenyan and Pakistani authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the 2022 killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, following a historic ruling by the Kenyan High Court deeming the killing unlawful and disproportionate.
October 02, 2024 Cambodian investigative journalist Mech Dara was arrested on incitement charges by military police. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) calls for his immediate release, urging Cambodia’s new leadership to respect press freedom.
September 25, 2024 The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the Israeli forces' raid on Al Jazeera's office in Ramallah, which resulted in a 45-day closure and the obstruction of reporting during critical times. CPJ emphasizes the importance of allowing journalists to report freely, especially amid ongoing conflicts.
September 25, 2024 Journalist Hadi Al-Sayed, working with Al Mayadeen Media Network, was killed after an Israeli airstrike hit his home in southern Lebanon. He is the fourth journalist to be killed by Israel since October 7, raising global concerns over the safety of journalists in conflict zones. Press unions demand justice and accountability for the targeted attacks.
September 24, 2024 Broadcast journalist Salman Ali Khan was fatally shot by unknown assailants in Madhya Pradesh, India. The IFJ and IJU demand a thorough investigation into the killing. Khan is the third journalist killed in India in 2024, raising concerns over media safety.
September 23, 2024 Explore the rising voices of independent media in Africa, their impact on democracy, and the challenges they face. Discover how these journalists are shaping narratives and empowering communities across the continent.