That's the advice of former radio host Pichian Amnajvoraprasert, whose programme was removed from FM96.5 in July.

"To block [media criticism] is like putting a cork in a kettle of boiling water," Pichian said. He said there was a wide gap in understanding between the remaining free press and the government, as well as educated people and the government.

"He [Thaksin] should open his mind if he wishes to see real reconciliation. Let the media speak their mind and the situation will improve," said the radio commentator, who first met Thaksin 30 years ago.

The former radio host spoke during a seminar on constructive communication and Thai politics at Krirk University yesterday. His radio show had been fair and balanced toward Thaksin, yet the state could not bear it and removed it from the air, he claimed.

"I tried to compromise [on criticism], so I don't know what to say. It's a small matter for him to close down my show but I want to see better conditions for our society."

Pichian said people's right to know, to express themselves, to criticise and to withdraw the mandate given to the regime must be upheld by the government.

"I wish he was sincere to the democratic system but he still bars criticism and only wants to hear nice things - what else can I say?"

Sathit Wongnongtoey, who represented the Democrat Party at the seminar, alleged that ongoing paid political advertisements by the party on state-controlled television media were subject to censorship.

The Board of Censorship refused to allow the party to use the phrase "divisive and conflict", he said, when referring to the current political situation in the Kingdom. They were forced to opt for the words "the peaceful state of society is changing".

The remark draw laughter from listeners at the seminar but an uncomfortable look from Jakrapob Penkair, the premier's deputy secretary, who was a speaker too.

Sathit also claimed that SMS text messages to a popular night-time political talk show were being manipulated. He alleged that on one topic, 4,800 text messages were sent but only 180 were selected while on another occasion the outcome of an SMS vote on a political issue was drastically tampered with to suit the government.

"It's time the media freed themselves from the yoke of the state. At present, some are behaving like a circus god [instead of a watchdog]."

Chart Thai Party deputy leader Nikorn Chamnong warned that things would backfire if the government continued to force-feed the public propaganda.

Jakrapob defended the premier and the government, however, saying as far as he knew Thaksin's heart "is not dictatorial".

He challenged Pichian to take his case to the Administrative Court to establish the truth about who was behind the sudden termination of his radio programme.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation