The move sparked nationwide protests among the media
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In an attempt to regulate the media, the Thai government is proposing a law that will require the licensing of all journalists reports Khaosod English.
According to the report, “The law would require all media in the country to register and submit to a national media council. No matter their platform – television, periodical or digital – all outlets would be overseen by the same council, which according to those who’ve seen the latest draft, would be comprised of industry representatives, citizens, unspecified experts from various fields and the permanent secretaries of four government ministries.”
The media law was proposed by the National Reform Steering Assembly’s media reform panel and is signature of the kind of tolerance the military government has had towards freedom of speech since its rise to power in 2014.
Thirty Thai media associations gathered on Sunday to protest the law. However, the military junta is said to be going ahead with it because they deem it as a necessity to instill ethics amongst reporters.
Deputy junta chairman Gen Prawit said, according to Khaosod English, that the media’s dissent is misguided and said “The [junta] has never thought about controlling the media. We only want the media to speak the truth.”
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