PRD caretaker director-general Lt-Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd on Wednesday asked editors and reporters from broadcasting outlets to “cooperate” with the agency to give more media attention to “underrated” ministers during the upcoming mobile Cabinet meeting in Nakhon Ratchasima next week.

Each TV outlet is to accompany a minister, except the PRD-affiliated National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT), which will report on three ministers.

Although in principle the media were given the option to choose which of the 17 ministers they intended to cover, Sansern told the journalists to make decision immediately, according to a source attending the meeting.

Sansern also said that in addition to their desired broadcasting, they should also submit their recordings for further airtime on NBT. “The PRD has enough resources but this [method] should help create a variety of reporting on the government,” he said.

The participating media outlets are Nation TV, Channel 3, Channel 5, Channel 7, MCOT, Thai PBS, Mono 29, Channel 8, TNN, NEW 18, True4U, One Channel, GMM 25, Thairath TV, NBT and NBT World.

Sansern, who is also the government spokesperson, said that the plan is to give more spotlight to ministers other than Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who often draws most media attention.

This “working integration” between the government and private outlets should help boost public understanding on the government’s performance, the spokesperson said.

“They can even use their own microphones in their reports to be sent to the NBT,” he added. “We won’t dictate how they report. It’s all voluntary.”

The plan, however, has been slammed by media professionals and academics who say it is not the government’s duty to get involved in media decisions on reporting.

Thepchai Yong, president of the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, said what Sansern did was tantamount to interference in the media’s work. “It is not a wise move on the part of the government, as this could be seen as an attempt to dictate to the media,” Thepchai said.

He insisted that the media has a professional responsibility to report truthfully and hold those in power and interest groups accountable, not to serve as a public relations tool for the government.

Weerasak Pongaksorn, managing editor of Nation TV, stressed that the media uses its own discretion on reporting. “We’re free to consider what and what not to report for social benefits,” Weerasak said.

Mongkol Bangprapa, secretary-general of the Thai Journalists Association, said he was concerned that Sansern’s guidelines could violate Article 184 of the Constitution, which states that the Upper and Lower houses shall not interfere or obstruct exercising of the media’s rights.

“Whether the media will be interested in reporting the matter depends on what content it holds and how it will attract public attention,” Mongkol said.

“The best way can be for the government to facilitate our reporting procedures without imposing new demands or agendas on the media,” he added.

Communications academic Mana Treelayapewat said that while the government should know its boundaries, media workers should also adhere to press freedom and refuse to bow to unfair conditions.

“The cooperation should not be made because of mere consideration or some mutual benefits,” Mana said. “The freedom to report should be at the forefront.”

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Phuc witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on economics and trade; science and technology; information and telecommunication; banking; and the establishment of sister cities between Thailand’s Trat and Vietnam’s Ca Mau provinces.

Phuc and many of his cabinet members arrived in Bangkok in the afternoon before a plenary meeting with Prayut at Government House.

Vietnamese and Thai companies also signed a number of business deals. They included an MoU between Viet Nam Oil and Gas Group and the Siam Cement Public Co Ltd; PetroVietnam Ca Mau Fertilizer JSC, PetroVietnam Fertilizer and Chemicals Corporation, Binh Son Refining and Petro Chemicals Co and SCG Chemicals Co Ltd; between SCIC Investment Co Ltd and Kasikorn Bank Public Co Ltd. An MoU on cooperation was also signed on the 700MW Bac Lieu/Ca Mau Wind Power Project between Super Energy Group Co Ltd and Cong Ty Trach Nhiem Huu Han Xay Dung–Thuong Mai-Du Lich Cong Ly.

Leaders of both sides exchanged views on the regional and global situation, according to a press statement issued after the meeting.

They emphasised the importance of effective management of the Mekong River as well as its sustainable use for a balanced approach between economic benefits and environmental preservation while ensuring the well-being of its peoples.

Prayut and Phuc also reaffirmed the need to maintain peace, security and stability as well as safety and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as well as overflights.

Vietnam is among Asean countries having territorial disputes with China in the sea. The two premiers emphasised the need for all parties to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea which China and Asean signed in 2002 to enhance mutual trust. They urged conflicting parties to solve their disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The two prime ministers also reaffirmed their support for the early conclusion of the Asean-China Code of Conduct after the Asean-China ministerial meeting in Manila adopted a framework for the establishment of the code early this month.

The plan was announced to the media by PRD acting director-general Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd, who is also the government spokesperson, on Wednesday as guidelines for media’s coverage of the mobile Cabinet meeting in Nakhon Ratchasima next week.

Thepchai Yong, president of the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, said what Sansern did was tantamount to interference in the media’s work. “It is not a wise move on the part of the government, as this could be seen as an attempt to dictate to the media,” Thepchai said.

He insisted that the media have a professional responsibility to report truthfully and hold those in power and interested groups accountable, not to serve as a public relations tool for the government.

Weerasak Pongaksorn, managing editor of Nation TV, stressed that the media uses its own discretion on reporting. “We’re free to consider what to report and what not for social benefit,” Weerasak said.

“The public is learning (even more so) how dishonest the Fake News is. They totally misrepresent what I say about hate, bigotry etc. Shame!,” the US president wrote on Twitter.

One protester was killed in violent clashes between neo-Nazi and so-called “Alt-Right” demonstrators and counter-protesters in the Virginia college town of Charlottesville Saturday.

Both Democrat and Republican politicians criticised Trump’s initial response — when he condemned violence “on all sides” — as inadequate.

On Monday he singled out the Klu Klux and neo-Nazis as “repugnant,” but on Tuesday he returned to his original position and said there had been “blame on both sides.”

Trump’s weak condemnation of the racist far-right set off a political firestorm across the US political spectrum. World leaders also criticised Trump’s response.

The US president also took aim at two fellow Republican senators, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Jeff Flake of Arizona.

“Publicity seeking Lindsey Graham falsely stated that I said there is moral equivalency between the KKK, neo-Nazis and white supremacists… and people like Ms. Heyer,” Trump said on Twitter.

Heather Heyer, 32, was killed in Charlottesville on Saturday when a suspected white nationalist drove his car into a crowd protesting the far-right march.

“Such a disgusting lie,” Trump said. “He just can’t forget his election trouncing. The people of South Carolina will remember!”

Trump appeared to be referring to his defeat of Graham in last year’s presidential primary.

Graham had said the US president “took a step backward” Tuesday “by again suggesting there is moral equivalency between the white supremacist neo-Nazis and KKK members who attended the Charlottesville rally” and people like Heyer.

Trump also blasted Flake, one of the few Republicans openly critical of the president.

“Great to see that Dr. Kelli Ward is running against Flake Jeff Flake, who is WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate. He’s toxic!” Trump tweeted.

Flake, who is running for re-election, wrote Tuesday: “We can’t accept excuses for white supremacy and acts of domestic terrorism. We must condemn. Period.”

He followed that up Wednesday by tweeting “We can’t claim to be the party of Lincoln if we equivocate in condemning white supremacy.”

Abraham Lincoln, the US president who freed the slaves and defeated the southern confederacy in the 1861-1865 civil war, is a prominent Republican and one of the most revered figures in US history.

The bill aims to prevent conflicts of interest among state officials including receiving gifts, and actions and judgements in favour of private entities in state projects or legal cases. Those subject to penalties under this new law include officials’ parents, partners, siblings, and children.

The NLA members mostly agreed with the content of the bill, but some wanted the meeting to define “state officials” more specifically to ensure that those involving in some mixed state-private initiatives, including the Pracha Rath projects, would not be subject to penalties under this law.

The meeting voted in favour of the bill, with 150 votes for and seven abstentions.

The NLA’s law vetting committee would next scrutinise the bill before bringing it back to the NLA to deliberate on the second and third readings.

The draft was amended by the NLA’s law vetting committee to allow current NHRC members to stay in office for three years, or half of their full terms, before being replaced by new members.

However, Juree Vijitvathakarn, a member of the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC), argued that the committee membership should be completely reset. Juree said that the background of current members is not sufficiently diverse and fails to meet international standards.

Some NLA members favoured allowing current members to work out their full terms before being replaced.

The NLA’s law vetting committee then decided to go back to the CDC’s original proposal to totally reset the NHRC. The NLA then voted in favour of the reversal, with 117 votes against 20, with eight abstaining.

But they agreed that NHRC members would remain in the office until new members are appointed. The selection process is estimated to take around 10 months after the law promulgation, the meeting heard.

The NLA then voted to endorse the NHRC bill with 199 votes in favour and four abstentions. The bill will next be forwarded to the NHRC and the CDC to see whether it is constitutional, and whether a joint review committee would be set up to consider its constitutionality.

The committee appointments follow the promulgation of the new national strategy act, which would see a super board for national strategy set up for the first time in Thai political history.

The new charter addresses for the nation’s first time a long-term national strategy of at least 20 years, alongside national reform plans. New laws governing national strategy and national reforms were then enacted and have been in effect since August 1 to steer the country towards the new goals.

The strategy board would have 30 members, chaired by the Prime Minister. At least six strategy sub-committees would be appointed to help guide the work.

The Cabinet on Tuesday endorsed a list of members of 11 reform committees. Wissanu defended the reform plans, saying they could be adjusted and do not place limitations on how future governments run the country, as some analysts had feared.

The issue had emerged after some media and social media users circulated an August 15 letter inviting editors of all media outlets to meet on Wednesday to discuss preparations for the Cabinet trip, including news reporting.

Sansern said this was not “regulating” the media as criticised, but “asking for cooperation” to produce news scoops concerning other Cabinet members who would also join the trip, set for August 19 to 22.

Sansern said that in the past news reports mainly covered the Prime Minister, despite the fact that other Cabinet members also joined him on trips. Cabinet member’s acknowledgement of Thailand’s problems and efforts to tackle them should also be communicated to the people, he said.

That led him to ask media outlets which ministers they wished to follow, and let them choose.

“ I did not force them to do it, but let them pick their choices by themselves. But they should not pick the same choices. Some TV channels asked me to pick choices for them but I didn’t do so, because I know that each channel has different topics of interest,” said Sansern.

He said that he understood that media that accompany the tour would produce reports of their own to be aired on their own channels, but he asked them to do pieces to also be aired on the government’s channel, NBT.

“I just tried to figure out how best to communicate stories which are not just of the Prime Minister, but of other Cabinet members, and wish to see diverse views from other media members, not just ours, NBT,” said Sansern, insisting that the media are still free to think of issues for their reporting.

Surachai said the NLA passed the bill late last month and forwarded it to concerned agencies to review within 15 days, and give feedback about whether they see it is constitutional or not. The agencies, the Ombudsman and the Constitutional Drafting Commission, did not raise any objection, said Surachai.

The NLA is therefore in the process of forwarding it to the Cabinet to review and then recommend it for Royal endorsement and promulgation.

While some independent agencies, including the Election Commission and the National Human Rights Commission, face a total reset upon the law’s enactment, the NLA has drafted the bill so that current members of the Office of the Ombudsman would continue in office until they finish their terms. The Ombudsman office would have less authority under the new law, and hence their qualifications need not be as high as that of the other agencies, the NLA reasoned in drafting the law.

The office would become an advisory body on state practices without the authority to probe the ethics of political office holders.

The bill is one of 10 organic laws required under the new Charter.

Established on Tuesday under the new national reform bill, 11 committees have been assigned to come up with a reform action plan and implementation within a year.

Their areas of coverage span politics, bureaucratic administration, law, justice, economy, natural resources and environment, public health, mass media, society, energy and anti-corruption.

The plans will be forwarded to the national strategy committee, chaired by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, as part of creating the legally binding, 20-year national strategy, to which future governments are supposed to comply.

Prayut’s government has made numerous attempts at so-called reforms, from establishing parliamentary reform bodies in place of the usual Lower House to setting up a super committee to “integrate” reform and administration work.

Those efforts could be the reason why reform committees are comprised of the same members of the defunct junta-appointed National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), such as Wanchai Sornsiri from the political reform committee; Khamnoon Sitthisaman and Pornthip Rotjanasunan from the NRSA whip; and Khanit Suwannet from the media reform committee.

The 120 names approved by the Cabinet also include current and former top bureaucratic officials, heads of private companies, former charter drafter chief Borwornsak Uwanno, media personality Seri Wongmontha and academic-turned-politician Anek Laothamatas.

Independent political science academic Trakool Meechai said re-enlisting these figures could mean that attempted reforms would make little or no difference. “It is unlikely to see new, fresh reform suggestions from the same old faces,” Trakool said.

Natpakorn Nammuang, from the NGO-based Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw), said that would also mean reform outcomes could be in line with the junta’s approach, given that many of the committee members had worked with, or even under, the junta.

“The lack of implementation could also mean that the powers-that-be actually wish to set up a code to conduct for future authorities rather than actual reform,” he said.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam argued that the membership of the committees was appropriate without being overshadowed by former NRSA members. “We had to seek good men and they were the only ones we could think of.”

Democrat Party deputy leader Nipit Intharasombat questioned whether the appointments could cause conflicts if they are prone to political bias. “Democracy can be realised only if all sides are thoroughly engaged in national reforms,” he said.

Prayut said yesterday that the newly appointed reform committees focusing on 11 key areas were meant to complement the government’s 20-year strategy.

Prayut also defended the composition of the 11 new panels, saying that their members came from several groups in society – and were not just retired bureaucrats as had been claimed. The PM also invited politicians and people from other groups to join the reform committees, as there were still vacant seats.

He was asked if the post-coup government’s reform efforts had already failed, as many of reform panel members were from the now-defunct National Reform Committee and National Reform Steering Assembly. Prayut said those reform assemblies had done a lot of work but more needed to be done.

“We need the reform committees to map out a national reform and strategy plan. This kind of work needs time and you should be patient. Things have become better,” he said.