Several newspapers report that the Democrat Party-led government has decided on measures to reform the state-run broadcaster NBT TV.
In 2007 the NBT was invaded by PAD, some of whom were armed – did these invaders ever get charged and go to court? PAD considered NBT pro-Thaksin Shinawatra and the Democrats have taken the same view.
The Bangkok Post (31 May 2009: “NBT changes to begin this year”) reports that the station will be run by a committee of nine. Six of these will be drawn from the Press Council of Thailand, National Human Rights Commission, Lawyer’s Council of Thailand, Council for Political Development, Association of University Rectors, and the Consumers Association.
The other seats are to be filled by government appointees. It is claimed that the six association members will guarantee that there is no political interference with the station. Perhaps, but PPT observes that each of these associations has been highly critical of those now associated with the red shirts. Some of this criticism has been vehement and highly partisan.
Media commentator Supinya Klangnarong is reported to have expressed doubts that the revamp of NBT will occur, citing politics and a lack of transparency.
Given that the report of the media reform committee goes to Sathit Wongnongtoey, a Democrat Party minister who has expressed a desire to control the media, PPT is also doubtful about meaningful media reform, whether at NBT or elsewhere.
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August 25, 2009 at 10:54 pm
[...] Sathit Wongnongtoey, one of the Democrat Party’s most strident proponents of the monarchy, of political control of the media and for limiting freedom of speech, said the “state of emergency would allow the prime [...]
October 21, 2009 at 4:11 pm
[...] busy (although not for much longer).Political Prisoners in Thailand has a post about reform of NBT – yes, these groups.Siam Report has a couple of interesting posts (here and [...]
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