Call for media reps to decline NLA spots
An action group yesterday called on the three media professional groups to hold a meeting and end disputes on their representation in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, hoped the problem would not aggravate an already difficult situation. The Council for National Security has appointed the chairs of the Press Council of Thailand (PCT), Thai Journalists Association (TJA) and Thai Broadcast Journalists Association (TBJA) as members of the NLA. Seventeen other media figures were appointed to the body under various quotas. Late last week reporters on the parliament beat gathered their signatures to demand that the PCT, TJA and TBJA chairs resign from the assembly. Suriyasai said he disagreed with having media representatives in the NLA because it could violate media ethics. But he did not support the move to pressure the three chairs to resign; he would like the three profession groups to hold a meeting on the issue instead. Meanwhile, former Democrat Party MP Apichart Sakdiseth disagreed with the call for the media representatives to resign from the assembly. He said they could still perform their journalistic duty while holding positions in the NLA.
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