THAILAND: Media leaders refuse to sit on govt panel

Three representatives from journalists association refuse to join 48-member panel, claim panel did not involve the public

Bangkok Post
Thursday, December 21, 2006

Three representatives of media organisations who were appointed by the government to sit on a committee to promote public participation in charter drafting said yesterday they would not be joining the 48-member panel. The three are Nattaya Chetchotiros, acting chairman of the Thai Journalists Association; Suwat Thongthanakul, acting chairman of the Press Council of Thailand; and Thakerng Somsap, chairman of the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association.

They said the panel, advised by PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan, had not informed them and other board members in their associations of the appointment before the announcement.

They said they had all agreed that they should not be part of a panel which failed to observe the principle of public participation from the start.

However, Mr Thirapat said it was a misunderstanding and he would talk the three chairmen into joining the panel.

"I want to solve any misunderstandings as soon as possible," he said at a press conference after the panel's first meeting yesterday.

The green light for the panel's formation was given by the government on Nov 29.

Date Posted: 12/21/2006

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