PRAMED LAKPETCH

Thai Journalists Association president and Thairath political reporter with 20 years of experience

If the media bill passes in its current state, how will you be affected?

As a professional journalist, this bill will have disastrous consequences for me. It is highly possible that I will not be able to report the news truthfully, straightforwardly or be critical of the government’s policies.

My role is to explain those policies to the public. But if I happen to do so in a way that displeases the authorities, it could get very dangerous for me, with government agents sitting on the committee.

Past experiences, when such harsh media bills were enforced, have proven this.

What consequences will the media bill have on the media landscape?

My profession and peers will be similarly affected. We will face more intimidation than we have now, and we may have to censor ourselves or face adverse consequences.

However, it is very difficult to assess the practical consequences this bill will have, since the draft lacks so many details as of now. However, it remains a very dangerous plan that authorities wish to enforce.

What is your definition of ‘media’ in this time and place?

Personally, I think that a ‘media worker’ is someone who reports the news truthfully, responsibly and regularly.

However, legislators have another definition, a broader one, that could end up putting all of us at risk.

In the future, if this bill is passed in its current state, anyone conveying the news or sharing information — that is, today, practically everyone who owns a smartphone and uses social media platforms including messaging applications — will be examined by the committee.

What do you think about registration?

This new certificate clause, that they have replaced the ‘license’ obligation with, is no different from their original plan. Although we are not provided with much practical details yet, it clearly shows the government’s intention to interfere in the media’s work.

Is the media in Thailand out of control? Should there be regulation and, if so, how should it be done?

I personally don’t believe that the Thai media is out of control. We are governed by many laws — both criminal and civil laws. The Computer Crime Act or the defamation laws are just a few examples out of many.

However, such legal procedures take time before they are successfully carried out. I think that this slow rhythm has led the public to believe that the media can do anything they want and not face the consequences.

By accelerating those procedures and bringing culprits to justice, we can make media consumers or victims of wrongdoing feel more protected, and regain trust from our audience.