Now is the time to push the government for a public television service while failure to do so could mean another decade or more before it is realised, said proponents of the draft public broadcast station bill yesterday.

"It's not an elusive dream," said Somkiat Tangkitvanij, research director at the Thailand Development Research Institute, who led the drafting team for the bill, which was publicly unveiled yesterday.

"We need a new mass medium that is a public organisation, which is transparent, socially responsible and allows for greater people's participation," Somkiat said, adding that his main concern was that time was running out for the bill to be approved by the junta-appointed Cabinet and the National Legislative Assembly.

The bill, if approved, will create Thailand's first public-service television in the mould of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Japan's NHK and the like.

PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan told the media yesterday that he would try to have the bill approved within four months.

"This is the best time for it to happen. We have only one House [the National Legislative Assembly, NLA], and it could be done within months," said NLA member Somkiate Ornwimon. "It can be done brashly, because it's a dictatorial government," he added.

"Though I would like to see the people's participation in drafting the bill, if we don't start lobbying today it will be tough, and we may have to wait for another 10 to 15 years after another coup in order to make the move," said Somchai Sawaengkarn, NLA member and deputy chairman of its committee on consumer protection.

However, concern about the haste and lack of public participation was aired by media reformist Supinya Klangnarong, who attended a symposium on the issue yesterday.

"I see the importance of public participation, but others might see it as a shortcut opportunity because there're no real opposition within the NLA. So how can we balance the two?" mused Supinya, adding that perhaps the state-controlled Channel 11 should start airing details about the proposed bill and allow the public to air their views to facilitate the debate.

Somkiat, who drafted the bill with the financial support of the National Health Foundation, said the draft legislature was open to adjustment but time was running out to prevent the bill from being sabotaged by an elected government after elections.

If passed, the 16-page draft bill will commit the government to creating a truly independent and non-profit television station with guaranteed funding from the state and further income from sponsorship but not advertising.

Initial funding needed for the establishment of the channel is estimated to be around Bt3 billion, plus subsequent yearly funding commitments subject to review by Parliament.

Somkiat argued that the amount was small because Thailand currently only spent one per cent of its national budget on Channel 11.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation