BANGKOK, 24 April 2015 – Professional journalists and consumer protection activists are urging the passing of more laws to ensure media independence and the protection of consumer rights.
The Constitution Drafting Committee’s deputy chairmen Manij Suksomchit and Chuchai Supawong on Thursday accepted a petition from Thepchai Yong, Group Editor-in-Chief of the Nation Multimedia Group who led a group of company employees and representatives of consumer protection networks to meet with the charter drafters.
The petition showed their support for the drafting of Section 48 of the new Constitution, which forbids the merger of news media organizations and provides additional details on the protection of news consumers’ rights.
The petitioners also stressed their support for the Nation Multimedia Group’s fight against a share-holding by Solution Corner (1998) Public Company Limited or SLC which they believe is illegal and against the principles of media reform.
Mr. Manij told all visitors that the CDC and concerned committees under the National Reform Council will look into the matter while noting that the issue between NMG and SLC has shed light on the rights of consumers in accessing news and information.
