Organization: Central Michigan University
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Wed, 26 Aug 1992 07:06:05 EDT
From:         Elliott Parker <3ZLUFUR@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Subject:      TH: Govt to decide on new TV stations
X-To:         seasia-l@msu.edu

=======================  Forwarded  Message  ===========================
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 92 23:39:47+0700
From: kamol@munnari.oz.au (Kamol Hengkietisak)

     THE CABINET yesterday agreed to overhaul the controversial
Broadcasting Control Board, a move aimed at improving media
freedom, but deferred until next week a decision on proposed new
television channels.
     The broadcast board, seen as one of the main tools of
censorship and political control, was replaced by a new 20-man
National Board for Radio and Television Activities , comprising
well-known academics and representatives of non-governmental
organisations such as Dr Prawase Wasi, Sopon Suphaphong and
Phaiboon Wattanasiritham.
     Ex officio membership of military and police officers has
been cut, giving the new board's civilian and non-bureaucratic
members more weight.
     Their new duties will place greater emphasis on ensuring
freer and more balanced radio and television news.
     The ministers decided they need another week to examine
complicated proposals to allocate five new ultra-high frequency
(UHF) television channels.
     The document was described as only ten or more pages, but
difficult to absorb.
     "The prime minister asked the ministers to read it
carefully," said PM's Office Minister Mechai Viravaidya. He
praised the drafters, Science and Technology Minister Phaichitr
Uathavikul and Deputy Commerce Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula.
     They "have done a lot of homework" and "tried to preserve the
national interest", Mr Mechai said.
     The Cabinet proposed holding public hearings during the last
few days of the interim government's term to allow a broader range
of opinions to be heard, and to increase public understanding of
the government's intentions.
     "I believe that next week there will definitely be a
conclusion," Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun said after
yesterday's unusually-long Cabinet meeting.
     He stressed that no contracts would be signed by his
government.
     "Whatever happens, we'll be submitting plans for the next
government," he told reporters at Government House. "This
government will not open up any bidding for the two private
channels."
     He and Dr Phaichitr offered different interpretations of the
public hearings that would be held if next week's Cabinet meeting
agrees to the proposals.
     Mr Anand said a committee might be set up to listen to a
wider range of opinions from the public than has been possible in
the past few weeks of planning.
     Dr Phaichitr said his proposal-drafting committee would hold
the hearings to clarify to the public the Anand government's
reasons for setting out the terms of reference. This, he said,
would help the public to react to final decisions made by the next
government.
     "We hope to have sufficient time to conduct public hearings
so that the public is sufficiently well-versed in the criteria we
are leaving behind," he said.
     Dr Phaichitr has rejected a proposal that two large
consortiums be set up to operate the two private UHF channels, out
of about ten companies that have expressed an interest.
     He said yesterday that the package he submitted to the
Cabinet allowed free bidding for the right to operate the
channels. The bids would be judged by the quality of programming
proposed, he said, and provisions would include a requirement that
shareholding be available to the public.
     He declined to reveal any other details, saying full
disclosure would be made after the Cabinet reaches a decision.
     Dr Phaichitr kept open the possibility that the Cabinet might
decide next week to do nothing.
     He said there were no disagreements among ministers yesterday
because they had no time to study and debate the proposals.
     "Since it is an important decision they asked for more time,"
he said.
     He added that the next government would be free to do as it
pleases with the proposals.
     The proposal-drafting committee took into account the four
main principles in drafting its proposals: The two new channels
will not be monopolised, the programming must be high-quality, the
broadcasting networks must cover the entire country, and the
financial package must be attractive for the state.
     The proposals also included punishment clauses to make sure
that once awarded the project, investors will comply with its
conditions, Mr Phaichitr said.
     The regulation appointing the new broadcast board empowers it
to set up sub-committees to receive and consider complaints from
the public, and to protect radio and television staff from
political or other pressure.
     The new board is required to ensure that radio and television
provide a genuine public service.
     The state electronic media are required to "promote
knowledge, understanding, responsibility and awareness in matters
concerning democratic government under a monarchy."
     The board should see that radio and television provide
information and an exchange of views to create "good and correct
understanding," taking into consideration the public's right to
information.
     Radio and television should also promote education, morality,
arts and entertainment, and maintain standards of decency, the
regulation says. They should aid development, improve the quality
of life and promote environmental protection, it adds.
     A decision to withdraw a licence or to close a station
requires a two-thirds majority of the board.
     The non-ex officio members are:
     o Saman Ngamsanit, head of the communications arts committee
of Sukhothai Thammathirat University;
     o Theeraphol Phoorat, dean of Bangkok University's
Communications Arts Faculty;
     o Niran Chiwasantikarn, dean of Yonok University's
Communications Arts Faculty;
     o Prawase Wasi, chairman of the Local Community Development
Foundation;
     o Sopon Suphapong, president of Bang Chak Petroleum and
secretary of the Creative Media Foundation;
     o Phaiboon Wattanasiritham, director of the Thailand Rural
Reconstruction Movement foundation;
     o M.R. Chalermsuk Boonthai, secretary of the National Women's
Council; and
     o Pradit Chiaosakul, president of the Consumer Protection
Society.
     The government proposals for the five UHF channels remain
unchanged from last week, according to Mr Anand's summary.
     One channel would be held in reserve for future unspecified
use, one would be for local re-broadcast of existing channels in
areas with poor reception, one would be educational and would come
under the Universities Bureau, and the remaining two would be
privately-operated.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU