Given the incessant escalation of violence in Thailand which has
pushed down the society into a deep political polarization of the
people and the use of weapons to hurt each other, media of all
branches--be they newspapers, radios or televisions--face
difficulties in performing their duties in the areas where
demonstration of various groups take place. There are proven facts
that the media has been facing various forms of threats day by day.
But in the spirit of its profession, the media is still determined
to do its job to uphold the nation's righteousness.

Under the current political crisis, the media professional groups,
comprised by The Press Council of Thailand, Confederation of Thai
Journalists, Thai Journalists Association and Thai Broadcast
Journalists Association and Association of Thai Cable Operators,
would like to issue the following statement:

1. We condemn all forms of violence against reporters and cameramen
representing all media branches. These include a threat to attack
the cameramen who took a video footage of a clash between opposing
political supporters at Viphavadee Soi 3 in Bangkok; a threat
against the reporters and cameramen in Chiang Mai who were covering
a fatal assault on an old man; the siege of the Thai Public
Broadcasting Service's office in Chiang Mai; the use of deadly
weapons to attack the office of anti-government satellite
television ASTV, which almost injured a news host; a physical
search of reporters and cameramen and daily pre-censoring of news
and news photos by the People's Alliance for Democracy's (PAD)
security guards at Suvarnabhumi International Airport; the shooting
of an OB van of TNN, the private cable news channel; or the act of
forcing a newspaper reporter to take off his T-shirt which has an
anti-violence message.

We consider these aforementioned acts as unacceptable since they
obstruct the work of the media and threaten the people's right to
access to information. We, therefore, appeal to protestors of all
sides to stop these acts once and for all.

2. No matter how the current violence turns out to be, the media
has a duty to report facts fairly so that the public is equipped
with enough information to make its own decision.

We, therefore, appeal to demonstrators to understand the work of
the media. Any group that attacks the media will not win public
support.

3. We appeal to the media of all branches, no matter which
organization they belong to or who their owners are, that they
should perform their duty and role with propriety, reporting facts
and information without being lopsided, biased, partial,
groundless, or composed only of half-truths.

Under the current severe social rift, the media should have a
balanced and comprehensive reporting and give all sides in the
conflicts justice. Reporters, newscasters and news hosts must
adhere to their professional ethics and not allow themselves to be
influenced by any particular group, which would only add to the
current violence and conflict. Whether it is ASTV, being the media
outlet with a cause; the National Broadcast Service (NBT), the
state television channel; or some community radio stations, all of
them should recognize the neutral status of the media nor should
they refrain from reporting fact-based news. Neither should they
allow themselves to be used as political tools.

4. We also urge all media friends to exercise great caution in
performing their respective duties in the areas where
demonstrations take place. They should be fully conscious of the
fact that in the demonstration areas where emotional outbursts can
easily escalate, they could easily be a target of violence that may
be either be caused by misunderstanding or ignorance on the part of
the media itself.

Therefore, reporters should exercise restraint and prudence and
avoid reprisals and all kinds of violent acts.

To help media personnel in safely performing their respective
duties, the TJA will distribute to members of the media, through
their editorial departments, arm bands bearing the word "Press" so
that they use these in identifying themselves properly while
conducting news coverage.

Finally, the three professional groups appeal to all sides taking
part in the current conflict, which is severely damaging the
country's social, economic and security aspects, to stop violent
acts and find a peaceful solution to the conflict to the
satisfaction of all Thai people.

The Press Council of Thailand
Confederation of Thai Journalists
Thai Journalists Association
Thai Broadcast Journalists Association
Association of Thai Cable Operators