In an open letter sent to media professionals and media organizations, Chaiwat Satha-anand, Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University and Ubonrat Siriyuvasak, Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University, demand an end to provocative and propagandistic behaviour and call on the media to adhere to their ethics, and the principles of independence, fairness and accountability to the people. The media should stop behaving as mouthpieces for certain interest groups.

4 May 2008

To the National Press Council of Thailand, Thai Journalist Association, Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, media organizations and media professionals,

On World Press Freedom Day, 3 May, everyone was urged to recognize the fundamental rights and liberties of the media in facilitating the dissemination of information, in exercising freedom of expression, and in serving as a public forum for mutual communication among factions in order to promote the use of non-violence in Thai society. Nevertheless, recent events show that the country’s democracy is being threatened by worsening political strife. The media cannot deny their contribution to the fragile situation.

In a democracy, the right to differ is broadly accepted. It is normal for people to belong to different factions. Such divergence cannot bring about violence as long as it has been expressed through peaceful political means, the justice system and intellectual debate via the media and academic forums.

But if this process stops to function, such differences can be used as a tool to foster hatred and violence.

Those in charge of the media and irresponsibility by the media can contribute to the dismantling of Thai democracy in at least three ways.

1. They may instigate anger and hatred and manipulate the situation

2. They may become the propaganda tool and staunch mouthpiece of one political faction and use vicious means to vilify their opponents

3. All this has happened while media professionals and media organizations allow breaches of their ethics. Or they have simply accepted such breaches and intentionally protected their own cliques and penalized their opponents.

Those media organs committing these three breaches have failed to abide by their standards and professional ethics which require them to heed the principles of fairness and accountability which for them are set at higher standards than those imposed on other people who have no power in their hands.

As certain Thai media organs have accumulated power, they have behaved just like the privileged and used the unbridled power in their hands to attack others whereas their fellows in the media have failed to uphold checks and balances.

Such forms of media are not simply unhelpful in furthering democracy, but can even backfire on it. They tend to foster anger, hatred and delusion and simply use their advantage to overcome others. As a result, they usually mislead the public and misuse the right to differ as a reason to promote violence.

Just as the media’s freedoms deserve to be protected, Thai society cannot afford to let the media use their power corruptly since it may lead to violence.

Media professionals and media organizations should concern themselves immediately with coping with the “toxic media” and let the public be part of the effort. The government need have no role in this regard.

Sincerely yours,

Chaiwat Satha-anand

Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University

Ubonrat Siriyuvasak

Faculty of Communication Arts Chulalongkorn University

Translated by Pipob Udomittipong