With news reports and commentaries swapping between praising and criticising the ruling regime, most mainstream media staff survive direct state intimidation. But two senior journalists recently ran foul of the junta.
Prominent journalist Vanchai Tantivitayapitak was reportedly pressured to quit his job as senior news director at news station PPTV for scrutinising and criticising the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Meanwhile, Citylife Chiang Mai magazine editor Pim Kemasingki faced the threat of criminal charges just for posting a satirical painting and was then forced to apologise to the province's governor.
Both cases demonstrate the unhealthy trend of state intimidation of the media and freedom of expression in general since the 2014 coup. As the country looks forward to a return to democracy with a general election planned for February next year, no one should be at risk of losing their job or feel threatened just because they want to hold the state accountable and the public informed.
