Bill endangers media survival
Prominent Media figures and rights activists are concerned whether the Thai media would survive suppression of press freedom in the wake of existing and future measures of the junta government. The source of the worry is the media regulation bill draft proposed by the junta-appointed National Reform Steering Assembly and is now to being considered by the Cabinet. The draft bill has proved controversial as media groups and civil organisations strongly oppose any form of state control or interference in new mechanisms proposed in the draft bill, including a media professional council, which would include two permanent secretaries. It also gives a vague definition of media professionals that could possibly cover other kinds of content providers, such as bloggers.
