• 
• 

Published on July 31, 2007

The court was essentially exorcising the ghosts that haunted the Thai media throughout the five years of Thaksin era.

Sermsuk Kasitipradit, who was the paper's chief reporter on military affairs and security, was fired for a report in which he alleged that there were cracks in the runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The management of Post Publishing, which publishes the newspaper, defended its decision, claiming an investigation committee found Sermsuk negligent in his duties. Chadin Dephaval, news editor and Sermsuk's immediate superior, was also forced to resign.

On the surface, it appeared that the management was only doing what was required of a responsible newspaper: meting out punishment to journalists who failed to observe journalistic standards. In this case, Sermsuk and Chadin were found to have allowed what was considered to be damaging and false information to get into the newspaper, putting its reputation at stake.

But the whole episode needs to be seen within the context of the prevailing political environment. While the information in his article at the time could not be verified, the penalty Sermsuk received was hardly consistent with the offence, considering the fact that he had served the paper for more than 22 years and was generally regarded within journalistic circles as being one of the most experienced and honest journalists.

Sermsuk was certainly not the first journalist to face the axe for offending the "powers-that-were". The fates suffered by other journalists who earned the wrath of the Thaksin government with their reports and comments are well documented. The most celebrated case involved the mass sacking of more than 20 news reporters and producers of iTV, Thailand's first independent TV station, after they tried to resist management's editorial interference.

The Bangkok Post was known to have been under persistent political pressure because of its news coverage being seen as critical of the Thaksin administration. A year before the Sermsuk case, its editor Veera Prateepchaikul was unceremoniously removed from his position following in-house complaints that the editorial department was facing increasing political interference.

Known for his intolerance of criticism, then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made no pretence of his displeasure with the traditionally free media. Thaksin used his immense wealth and political clout to keep most of the mainstream media in line. Cooperating newspapers and broadcasters were handsomely rewarded with advertising contracts from his family-owned businesses while dissident media were ostracised.

Newspaper owners and editors were left with no option: either become Thaksin cheerleaders or face his political wrath. Most chose the easy - and profitable - way out. For the first few years at least, the media in general put aside their watchdog role and found themselves enjoying a chummy relationship with the administration.

As a result, Thaksin and his government were spared the scrutiny of the mainstream media, which would have exposed the fallacy of his political leadership and his populist policies long before tens of thousands of people took to the streets to call for his ouster.

Thaksin's conflicts of interest and cronyism were largely ignored until they became too obvious to overlook.

What happened to Sermsuk - and to other journalists who continued to pursue their duties regardless of the pressure - is a testament to the extent that political power combined with business interests is capable of bringing the media to its knees. Through editors and managers the Thaksin government was able to get critical journalists to toe the line. The more stubborn ones were either sidelined or removed.

Widespread corruption at Suvarnabhumi Airport - partly blamed for the subsidence of parts of its runways and the cracks in them - was not uncovered until after Thaksin was thrown out of power and it has more than absolved Sermsuk and his news editor.

Those who put political correctness - sugar-coated with business interests - before professionalism should be ashamed.

While legally speaking the Sermsuk case was primarily a labour dispute, the Central Labour Court's ruling has nevertheless shone the light on one of the darkest hours for Thai press freedom.

No one expects Thaksin and his like to have learned their lesson from their political abuses that led to the worst violations of press freedoms that Thailand has seen under a democratically elected government. But it's crucial that those in the media have learned something from that experience so that they will not become partners in a crime against their own profession in future.

 Thepchai Yong