Press Freedom 'eroded Under Thaksin'

[george]

Press freedom 'eroded under Thaksin'

BANGKOK - The ruling party and its allies and supporters now control a significant chunk of Thailand's television and radio media, either directly or indirectly, say analysts.

A Freedom House media freedom index shows that Thailand's media had the most freedom in recent years during the administration of Banharn Silpa-archa in 1995-96.

However, that degree of freedom has been noticeably reduced under the Thaksin administration, it shows.

'We are now behind the Philippines and Taiwan in press freedom,' Mr Somkiat Tangkitvanich, research director of the Thailand Development Research Institute Foundation, told foreign correspondents in a discussion on Thursday.

Eyebrows were raised recently when relatives of Thai Rak Thai secretary-general Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who is also transport minister, bought a block of shares amounting to more than 20 per cent of The Nation, making the family the third-largest shareholder.

The Nation group is known for its independent editorial line, and is more critical of the government than most others.

And in a landmark case, secretary-general Supinya Klangnarong of the Campaign for Media Reform, three Thai Post editors and the newspaper's publishing company are being sued for libel by Shin Corporation.

The huge telecommunications-based conglomerate is controlled by the Prime Minister's family.

The case is being keenly watched by analysts, activists and non-government organisations.

The suit rests on an interview that Ms Supinya gave the Post in which she said that political power was being used to further business interests, and that Shin Corp had benefited during the Thai Rak Thai party's rule.

-- Agencies 2003-12-06