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Hermanolobo
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BANGKOK - The ruling party and its allies and supporters now control a
significant chunk of Thailand's television and radio media, either
directly or indirectly, say analysts.
A Freedom House media freedom index shows that Thailand's media had
the most freedom in recent years during the administration of Banharn
Silpa-archa in 1995-96.
However, that degree of freedom has been noticeably reduced under the
Thaksin administration, it shows.
'We are now behind the Philippines and Taiwan in press freedom,' Mr
Somkiat Tangkitvanich, research director of the Thailand Development
Research Institute Foundation, told foreign correspondents in a
discussion on Thursday.
Eyebrows were raised recently when relatives of Thai Rak Thai
secretary-general Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who is also transport
minister, bought a block of shares amounting to more than 20 per cent
of The Nation, making the family the third-largest shareholder.
The Nation group is known for its independent editorial line, and is
more critical of the government than most others.
And in a landmark case, secretary-general Supinya Klangnarong of the
Campaign for Media Reform, three Thai Post editors and the newspaper's
publishing company are being sued for libel by Shin Corporation.
The huge telecommunications-based conglomerate is controlled by the
Prime Minister's family.
The case is being keenly watched by analysts, activists and
non-government organisations.
The suit rests on an interview that Ms Supinya gave the Post in which
she said that political power was being used to further business
interests, and that Shin Corp had benefited during the Thai Rak Thai
party's rule. -- Nirmal Ghosh (sic)
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:13 am on Dec. 9, 2003
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Hermanolobo
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"We seek a free flow of information...a nation that is afraid to let the people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation afraid of its people."
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 6:57 am on Dec. 10, 2003
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Vancouver Jay
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This is news? Why exactly do you think the ruling classes are happy to fund just enough education to make useful laborers and soldiers, but not enough to produce a large amount of independent thought?
Rote learning produces farm implements and little more.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:23 am on Dec. 10, 2003
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