The Thai Journalists Association (TJA)
expressed concern yesterday at the ruling junta's order issued on Friday night
barring all media from criticising its work.
The TJA
warned that the order could lead to violations of people's right to be informed
and would risk putting too much censorship power into the hands of the person
in charge of censorship.
The
association said many media organisations were already exercising restraint in
order to ensure that their reports and analysis do not fan political conflict.
TJA
said it was unclear what the effect would be if the military acted on its
threat to shut down a media outlet if it fails to follow the order of the
National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). The association said it would hold
a meeting next week to mete out a more concrete response to the junta's order,
which was issued late on Friday night.
The
NCPO warned media organisations they would face immediate bans and legal action
if they would disseminate prohibited content.
NCPO
spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvari said yesterday that the latest announcement
just combined some previous ones involving the mass media. He said this new
announcement also covered people other than the media.
Friday's
announcement - the junta's 97th overall - prohibits criticism of its
operations, staff and related people. It covers print, broadcast, electronic
and online media.
The
NCPO also prohibited the running of stories on scholars, former government officials
and former employees of the courts, judicial offices and independent
organisations that may cause or worsen conflicts, distort information, confuse
society or lead to the use of violence.
The
dissemination of false information and state secrets in any form is prohibited,
as is insulting the monarchy or defaming any person, threatening national
security and threatening to use violence that could cause fear. Mobilising
people for an anti-NCPO activity is also banned.
If the
NPCO issues information, the media must disseminate it.
Governors,
Interior Ministry officials and provincial police chiefs have been told to stop
any political assembly or activity against the NCPO.
TJA
president Pradit Ruangdit said an initial meeting held yesterday saw members
express concern about the NCPO order. He said the media was bound to adhere to
truthful, accurate and complete reporting and anything that deviated from that
could already be dealt with through existing laws.
Pradit
also asked where the line could be drawn when it comes to deciding what
constitutes criticism of the military junta's work and warned of the risk of
power concentration that enables rights to information to be suspended.
Section
5 of the order stated that violators could face immediate media shutdown and
Pradit asked if outlets would be warned first before such a penalty was meted
out. He also said there was no process that could scrutinise the exercise of
power by the NCPO and warned that it may lead to more adverse effects than
good.
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