This is a follow up to my earlier report about a recent auto accident in Bangkok that phenomenally generated 240,000 'like' and counting Facebook Fanpage.
In that article, I touched on the subject of growing dissatisfaction and distrust with Thailand's mainstream media. No sooner than I started to write this article did another Facebook Fanpage came up. The Fanpage page is loosely translated into "We're Confident that Over 1 Million Thais Are Not Happy with Thai Media Coverage of Praewa Case." In less than 5 hours, the site already has 8,000 likes and counting.
By the time most Thai netizens wake up tomorrow, this Facebook Fanpage will likely shoot up and become the next hot social media trend and topic.
Indeed, just reading through the 100+ comment on my earlier report revealed a deep sense of distrust, helplessness, and outrage when it comes to the current state of Thailand mainstream media. Some of the comments, despite their far from perfect English, speak louder than what I can write. (Note: Although I see this as inspirational and powerful because Thai people normally care deeply about "face." That these comments knowingly post in their broken English to appeal to international community and at the risk loosing "face" only reinforce the urgency of this issue.
"Thai media now making more money by getting bribed to be...quiet, Good business!! Sadly money and power of the influential family, from a high military position who usually are backed by the government and whoever higher than the law, talks a lot louder than the truth. I start to see many barbarian attitudes of those ppl who are pretending to be dumb,deaf and blind by the power and money not listening to all public voices and can do whatever even letting valuable scholars professor and PH.D. who are the future of our country died in vain! She should have faced the truth and apologize for the victims' families instead of running away from the problems! Thank you CNN! Maybe we Thais have to depend on your source to quit this unfairness since the ICT in Thailand has blocked, vanished all the truth on TVs, newspapers and most of the media. Its time for them wake up and face the reality if we can have a right to speak out the truth!" Thailandonly
"This is another prove of the unfair performance of Thai media and justice influenced by money and power..We came to speak up here on the cyber world because all of us know that these unfair practices are way too much to be ignored." sexyporkshop
"Influential person has controlled the thai news..." sunnytaiyo
"I'm sorry i can speak english a little.My country cannot capture her. Because She is a daughter of some Policeman. This Policeman is a Big Power, Big Influence. nobody can do it.Please ! CNN Staff . You are my only hope and all of thailand people hope." markdoom
"Life is not fair in Thailand unless we change it. It is the time that people should use their voices to call for the justice that has been lost for ages. It is the time that we need to teach those "influential" people to know that everyone is created equal and should be treated and respected regardless of how much money they have in the bank.Unsurprisingly, money can shut and turn Thai media mouth from those critical one to those afraid rats in the rotten hole. Out of my respect, I hope CNN can do something about it. I challenge you to work on this case, reveal the truth, and show this news internationally because I hope that this will critically change Thailand society. Prove us that your media is respectable and worthy to be called " The World Leading News." Thank you :D" vongp
The common thread running through most of the comments are the overwhelming sense of helplessness when it comes to trusting Thai mass media to give fair coverage in the case like the recent auto accident when the suspect is from rich and powerful family.
What lead many Thais to such feeling of despair? Who's the culprit?
It is normal practice here to create various strawman to detract people away from the root cause. In some way, the answer is not hard to find. In other ways, it can get complicated and warrant additional deeper, lengthier analysis (that I will try to write in the near future).
1. Endemic corruption
2. Deep rooted patronage and cronyism
3. Worsening censorship law
All three factors contributed to why Thailand mass media has become the shell of its former self. It was not that long ago that Thailand was hailed by international community as the regional role model for human right and press freedom.
All that began to change with the Thaksin regime. The media savvy Thaksin understood more than anyone the power of the media and those that can control them can effectively control Thailand. Ironically, the current government finally learned the art of media manipulation and censorship from its chief nemisis; Thaksin Shinawattra. Thailand's rating in term of press freedom and human right started its decade long decline since the Thaksin regime with the current government does a good job of continuation of this trend.
I personally know some of the writers, reporters, and editors of Thailand mainstream media. Off the record, most of them are not that proud at having to compromise their journalistic integrity. But what can they do? At stake are their livelihood and personal/family safety. They continue to see examples set for those that would ignore the censorship law whether it be sacked Editor of Bangkok Post or Editor of Prachathai web site.
What are you supposed to do when "Poo Yai" aka "Influential Person" or your boss call you to and tell you how you should report certain news?
References:
Facebook Fanpage (http://www.facebook.com/pages/manci-khn-thiy-kein-lan-mi-phxcisuxthi-bidbeuxn-reuxng-phaer-wa/124416610958826?v=wall)
Previous Report (http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-534734)
Press Rating (http://en.rsf.org/spip.php?page=classement&id_rubrique=1034)
Jailed and harassed journalist (http://illinoisredshirts.blogspot.com/2010/11/fighting-for-press-freedom-in-thailand.html)
Sample of Biased Reporting by Thai Mainstream Media (http://webboard.sanook.com/forum/3341395)
