Media rallies against Thai government

A newspaper shop owner shows The Nation and local language sister publication Kom Chat Luk, with a headline that reads "Dark ages, threat to press freedom"

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Media professionals in Thailand are seeking an investigation into the conduct of the government over alleged media intimidation which could lead to an impeachment process against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Bangkok Post reported Friday that an open letter signed by hundreds working in print and electronic media would be submitted Monday to Parliament President Uthai Pimchaichon and Senate Speaker Maj-Gen Manoonkrit Roopkachorn.

The letter charges the government with gross infringement of press freedom and acting in violation of the constitution during a series of recent moves against media organisations.

The Senate possesses the authority to dismiss holders of any political office found guilty of power abuses that violate the constitution.

AUDIO Editor of the Bangkok Post, Pichai Chuensuksawadi, on the Thai press crackdown 1.83 MB / 2 min. 52 secs. WAV sound   MORE STORIES • Magazine apologizes to Thai government     CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

The letter comes only a day after Thailand reinstated the visas of two international journalists that were revoked last month on grounds of national security.

The visas of Far Eastern Economic Review correspondents Shawn Crispin, 33, and Rodney Tasker, 56 were reinstated on Thursday, after the news magazine apologized to the Thai parliament for any misunderstandings caused by a story deemed by police to be offensive to the country's monarchy.

But the reinstatement has been overshadowed by growing controversy over what local media call a secret government probe against them and the latest in a series of crackdowns on the press by the Thai government.

On Thursday, one of Thailand's biggest media outlets, the independent Nation Mutlimedia Group, said the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) had launched an investigation into the assets of several of their staffers.

But Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has denied the government ordered the probe and one agency official said that a letter sent out to a number of businesses ordering an investigation may have been fake.

But in a sign that the media tussle may turning up the heat on Thaksin himself, one lawyer who also represents one of the banks urged to probe the companies, has denied that the order or letter is a fake, and local newspapers are now labeling the saga "Thaksingate."

'Freest in Asia'

A series of restrictions slapped by the government on the Thai press has sparked an outcry from local media and international press watchdogs.

The local media is claiming in the open letter to Parliament President Uthai Pimchaichon, reported by the Bangkok Post, that the government had intensified its hostility towards the media despite several warnings from academics and press associations.

Thailand's media industry has long been considered one the freest in Asia, but several analysts say prime minister's latest moves may be an effort to silence critics and maintain his grip on power in the face of falling popularity ratings.

The war of words heated up this week when the government pulled the plug on the Nation's radio news programs, saying they had not paid for airtime.

The media group responded by saying it would halt all coverage of politics on its 24-hour cable news channel until such time as they could be sure they will be free from all forms of interference.

In Thailand, the military owns most radio stations and leases them to private operators.

Appeal

Thaksin: Center of media attention, though perhaps not the kind of attention he would like

While confusion surrounds the probe into the Nation group, the company has said it would file an appeal with the Administrative Court to stop the AMLO probe, whose top targets are normally drug traffickers and other criminals.

"We regard the act as government harassment of the media and interference in our privacy," Thepchai Yoon, editor-in-chief of the Nation group told The Associated Press.

Thepchai insists the order for the probe is genuine and was leaked by a source in the anti-laundering office "who did not agree with the government action."

Thaksin has repeatedly stated he is not trying to muzzle the press, and says the media can have freedom, but that it should be what he called "constructive."

Thaksin, a multi-millionaire businessman who made his fortune in telecoms, won a landslide victory in elections just over a year ago.

However, recent polls suggest he may be losing some of that popularity and opponents have said his apparent attempts to restrict media criticism show how desperate he is to hold on to power.

The government's actions have drawn fire from the international community.

Earlier this week Senator Jesse Helms, a ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said that the United States may have to reconsider its support for Thailand because of the "authoritarian" expulsion orders against the foreign journalists.