12.18-The Thai Propaganda Machine Eating Up Critical Info-by our National Security analyst, Bally.
They say the first thing to die in conflict is the truth. And in Thailand, the conflict has been going for 3 years now, and so there is very little left of the truth in Thailand. So who has the job of bringing clarity to the world. Worldwide it is the job of journalist to bring truth and facts to the conflict, as it would enlighten those in the dark and contribute to a peaceful solution-or at least clear understanding of the conflict.
In Thailand, as violent clashes between the mob and the government took place, one hope is that Thai reporters will give a clear picture of what happened. Yet only after two days after the clashed took place, two critical pieces of information, that would have solved some important questions-were intentionally blacked-out, by the Thai free press.
The first critical piece of information is a poll that is made fresh after the clashes, that showed that the Thais are split about 50-50% on their supports for the mob or for the government. The poll also indicated many more facts, such as what they disagree with most, isn’t the violence that broke out, but how doctors say they will not treat injured police. But instead of the poll, all the press ran stories on the doctors protest march, quoting doctors and all-even how the International Medical Association wrote the Thai medical association for clarification was left out.
If one is new to Thailand, one would ask why would the Thai press intentionally delete such a poll results? And those who have been observing the Thai press from a neutral position, would have concluded long ago that the Thai press is anti-government, because they literally hate Thaksin. And as foreign press comes to report on the recent clashes in Thailand, and most reported how the mob is anti-democratic and wants a coup to take place, most Thai press are reporting on how this group and that groups have come out to protest the government-not a single Thai press reported on how the mob wants a coup and how it is anti-democracy.
The second piece of information that was intentionally black-out, is about how the Thai crown princes said in the US that the mob isn’t about protecting the Mornarchy, but about the mob’s own interest. It is just so un-believable how this piece on information is treated by the Thai press, because the mob sets itself up as being the protector of the the mornarchy and used the mornarchy against so many of its enemies such as Thaksin. Today, thousands of mob supporters continue to support the mob because they believe the mob is keeping the mornarchy alive-safe from Thaksin’s and the government intentions to bring it down.
If one thinks those black-out incidents are the exceptions, one is very wrong. It is a general practice by the Thai press to twist stories. For example, as the Thai medical establishment comes out against the government-to the extent of announcing that it will not treat police of their families-one doctor says a round object that looks like a home made bomb, held in the hands of a bomb injured man, was not a bomb as the police says, but a key chain-as he saw this at the hospital. In fact, only one news paper touched on an important bit of information, and that is the key doesn’t exists in the patience belonging bags.
That missing key chain fact, while only a small and one of a small incident, is telling of a much bigger problem. And that is downright taking the side of the mob by the major press such as the Nation group. In fact, the Nation Group says it proudly that journalist must take side and the right side is with the mob. One comes to expect reports from the Nation and most of the Thai press on things such as not using the word alledged wrong-doing by Thaksin, but would say it outright that Thaksin is guilty-way ahead of any guilty judgment.
The most significant event of black-out occurred however, when a group of protesters went to protest at the privy council house, whom the protesters believe is the culprit of the coup they were protesting, and the protesters were beaten about as badly as the recent violent. But in that incident, the Thai press-all of them-took the position that the protesters went too far in protesting such an important figure. However, in the recent violent incident in front of the parliament house, not a single Thai press said a word about how the mob, already occupying the Thai government house, was again going too far.
These types of black-outs and twisted use of information, and down-right editorializing stories are common facts in Thailand. The Thai association, the big one that overlooks all other Thai press associations, have tried in vain to inject some sense of responsibility back into the Thai press, with the latest by calling for all reporters not to speculate but to reports all important facts in a straight forward manner.
But from the black-out of the poll and the Thai crown princes stories, that call has certainly fell on deft ears.
Thai Intelligent News 