Intimidate the press, intimidate the people

By Suchada Tupchai

Whatever the outcome of the nation’s current political turmoil, and it is very difficult at present to picture a clearing of the anger that has brought about the downfall of the last government, there is one stark factor that must never be forgotten...You cannot intimidate the press. A government attempting to bully, threaten, frighten or coerce the press is also intimidating the people. And the people of Thailand will not be intimidated.
The rallies against press intimidation where thousands of members of the media demonstrated against the bullying in its many forms and the workings of dark forces against freedom of speech are not just a media issue, they represent the voice of the people, the people who have the right to be governed fairly and who also have the right to remove elected governments who they believe are not doing so.
The latest mass rally that began on April 5, at which signs saying “Intimidate the Press, Intimidate the People” created a powerful image in the domestic and international media showed the determination that exists to block all forms of coercion, no matter how open or how unseen, how straightforward or how devious.
This is not simply a response to one government, or to one political situation. It is ingrained deeply within the spirit of the nation, and it will never go away. Breaching press freedom by interfering in coverage, by direct political intervention, by commercial means or by simply buying out uncooperative publications is never going to work in Thailand again. Any government attempting to replicate this approach is doomed to failure.
The declaration of intent announced at this rally, that the mass media is in essence freedom of speech and that the control of the press can only be by the press, which is in effect the people, evoked the era of dictatorship. And we no longer live under a dictatorship. We live within a democracy.
The media has united to fight for a freedom based on morals and correctness in the belief that intimidation of the press is also intimidation of the people, intimidation of democracy and an obstacle to public stability, prosperity and happiness.
Whatever happens next, bullying the media will play no part.

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