THAILAND: PM ponders life as a newsman

At seminar, prime minister says media needs to balance "their efforts to ease tensions and their right to free expression"

Bangkok Post
Sunday, May 17, 2009

By Pradit Ruangdit

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says he may host a news analysis show when he steps down from the post.

He was speaking at a media seminar at Thammasat University's Pattaya campus in Chon Buri yesterday, organised by the Thai Journalists Association.

The prime minister said the country had been in the grip of a highly-charged political situation and everyone wanted national reconciliation.

Journalists had tried to do their bit to find ways to end the conflict.

However, he stressed the need for the media to strike the right balance between their efforts to ease tensions and their right to free expression.

He took a question about whether he would be interested in running a media organisation after he left politics.

Mr Abhisit said he had never thought of becoming a media executive, although he said he may try his hand at hosting a news analysis programme discussing political topics.

The prime minister also talked about a government plan to support the work of the media and ensure people have more access to information, a push for measures to protect the media, and the allocation of broadcast frequencies.

Some journalists proposed that a clause in the Criminal Code imposing penalties for defamation be revoked.

Mr Abhisit said the media's criticism of state authorities should be based on facts.

Date Posted: 5/17/2009