Media representatives gather at the Thai Journalists Association yesterday to demand an end to press intimidation.

Hundreds of Thai journalists from across the Kingdom rallied yesterday for an immediate end to all forms of intimidation and harassment against those working in the print and broadcast media.

The move followed a historic meeting of reporters, editors and publishers who agreed to show solidarity and express a common position to defend and protect the integrity of the media.

The journalists said they feel an increasing threat - be it subtle or in the form of outright intimidation - to the press and to press freedoms.

The Thai professional media associations, who came together to express their common voice, included the Thai Journalists Association, the Economic Reporters Associa-tion, the Confederation of Thai Journalists and the Thai Broadcast Journalist Association.

Media associations expressed their concern about the threat to their profession through litigation, both criminal and civil. In some cases, newspapers are subject to lawsuits that claim damages to the tune of several billion baht, apparently aimed at bankrupting the publishing houses altogether.

"Today we are seeing a new phenomenon, as media from all newsrooms feel the same way and have joined hands to fight against intimidation by the government and 'dark powers'," said the president of the Thai Journalists Association, Pattara Khumphitak.

He added that all Thai press organisations would publish and broadcast a joint editorial on April 11 to express the media's stance.

Thepchai Yong, Nation group editor, said the Thai professional media associations would submit a letter to Thaksin Shinawatra and ministers involved with the media asking for meeting with Thaksin about the intimidation issue.

"In the past, Thaksin has never thought about talking directly with the press. Instead he has talked via the state-run media. This has lead to a lack of communication and understanding bet-ween media and the government leader," he said.

"This may lead to bad attitude and a channel of intimidation that we have never seen before. We want to meet Thaksin and have an open-minded and frank discussion. If Thaksin and his ministers refuse to meet us that means they accept that the press is already facing intimidation," he said.

Recently, the office of Kom Chad Luek, a Thai-language newspaper under the Nation Multimedia Group, was surrounded by 3,000 protesters for more than seven hours.

The protesters, apparently with support from people in power, completely sealed off the premises, preventing the staff of the Nation Multimedia Group from entering or leaving. They also used abusive words to threaten reporters, editors and other staff. The law was abused, but the constitutional rights of the reporters, editors and staff were also breached.

Other publications, such as the Manager Group and Naew Na, have also experienced similar threats and intimidation.

The professional media associations condemned all kinds of violations and threats to the independence and integrity of their operations and called for protection under Article 39 of the Constitution.

They also pledged to independently pursue their duty and responsibility in providing timely, accurate and truthful news to serve the public. They also pledged not to bow to pressure from the powers that be, whose intentions might not serve the best interests of the public.