The international media and the domestic political coverage of the Thai press

Modern Asian Studies

Volumn 33, Issue 3, 1999, Pages 551-579

  McCargo, Duncan ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

MEDIA ROLE; POLITICAL PROCESS;

THAILAND;

EID: 0032800538     PISSN: 0026749X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/S0026749X99003455     Document Type: Article

References (67)

1. See Gordon Fairclough, 'Free to air: newly assertive media pique the government', Far Eastern Economic Review, 16 November 1995.
2. This article rejects more common conceptions of the press as a 'mirror', 'agenda-setter', or 'watchdog' as unsatisfactory in the Thai case, since Thai media organizations are generally political actors in their own right, often linked to or owned by prominent political figures, and dedicated to the promotion of particular vantage points. For a detailed discussion, see Duncan McCargo, Media Machinations: The Politics of the Thai Press (forthcoming).
3. Garry Rodan, 'Symbolic clash with international press in Singapore', Asiaview (Asia Research Centre, Murdoch University), 5, 1, April 1995, p. 4.
4. An example was the 1993 Longman dictionary affair, when it emerged that a dictionary published by the British publisher Longman described Bangkok as a city known for its large number of prostitutes. For a critical view of the affair, see Suthichai Yoon, 'A case of misplaced Thai anger', The Nation, 12 July 1993, reprinted in Suthichai Yoon, Thai Talk: A Collection of Writings from The Nation (Bangkok: Nation Publishing 1995), pp. 233-5.
5. An example was the 1993 Longman dictionary affair, when it emerged that a dictionary published by the British publisher Longman described Bangkok as a city known for its large number of prostitutes. For a critical view of the affair, see Suthichai Yoon, 'A case of misplaced Thai anger', The Nation, 12 July 1993, reprinted in Suthichai Yoon, Thai Talk: A Collection of Writings from The Nation (Bangkok: Nation Publishing 1995), pp. 233-5.
6. On Japan, see Duncan McCargo, 'The political role of the Japanese media', Pacific Review, 9, 2, 1996, pp. 251-64.
7. Maggie Farley, 'Japan's press and the politics of scandal', in Susan J. Pharr and Ellis S. Krauss (eds), Media and Politics in Japan (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1996), p. 141.
8. Farley, p. 147.
9. For a discussion, see Jon Vandel Heuvel and Everette E. Dennis, The Unfolding Lotus - East Asia's Changing Media (New York: The Freedom Forum Media Studies Center, 1993), pp. 173-5.
10. Duncan McCargo, 'The buds of May', Index on Censorship, April 1993, pp. 5-8.
11. For some broader discussions of the media and political change in Thailand, see Duncan McCargo and Ramaimas Bowra, Policy Advocacy and the Media in Thailand (Bangkok: Institute of Public Policy Studies, 1997); Ubonrat Siriyuvasak, 'The development of a participatory democracy: raison d'être for media reform in Thailand', Southeast Asian Journal of Social Science, 22, 1994, pp. 101-14; and Glen Lewis, 'Current issues in Thai media debates', Media International Australia, 78, Nov. 1995, pp. 31-8.
12. For some broader discussions of the media and political change in Thailand, see Duncan McCargo and Ramaimas Bowra, Policy Advocacy and the Media in Thailand (Bangkok: Institute of Public Policy Studies, 1997); Ubonrat Siriyuvasak, 'The development of a participatory democracy: raison d'être for media reform in Thailand', Southeast Asian Journal of Social Science, 22, 1994, pp. 101-14; and Glen Lewis, 'Current issues in Thai media debates', Media International Australia, 78, Nov. 1995, pp. 31-8.
13. For some broader discussions of the media and political change in Thailand, see Duncan McCargo and Ramaimas Bowra, Policy Advocacy and the Media in Thailand (Bangkok: Institute of Public Policy Studies, 1997); Ubonrat Siriyuvasak, 'The development of a participatory democracy: raison d'être for media reform in Thailand', Southeast Asian Journal of Social Science, 22, 1994, pp. 101-14; and Glen Lewis, 'Current issues in Thai media debates', Media International Australia, 78, Nov. 1995, pp. 31-8.
14. Interview notes, 24 Nov. 1995.
15. For a relevant discussion, see Susan J. Pharr, 'Media as trickster in Japan: a comparative perspective', in Pharr and Krauss (eds), Media and Politics in Japan, pp. 19-43.
16. The Asian Wall Street Journal, 31 May 1995.
17. Siam Post, 1 June 1995.
18. 'Newspaper's "praise" leaves Chat Thai, Banharn fuming', The Nation, 2 June 1995.
19. Siam Post, 2 June 1995.
20. The Nation, 2 June 1995.
21. Siam Post, 2 June 1995.
22. For a Thai view highly critical of the western media's coverage of the election, see Prangtip Daorueng, 'Thais like their democracy, warts and all', Manila Chronicle, 13 July 1995.
23. When the Democrats returned to power in November 1997, Abhisit was appointed a minister in the prime minister's office, and Surin became foreign minister.
24. Interview with Bangkok-based journalist, 2 Feb. 1996.
25. Interview with Abhisit Vejjajiva, 31 Jan. 1996.
26. Dagens Nyheler, 26 Nov. 1995.
27. Translation from 'What the contentious article on bribery said', The Nation, 29 Nov. 1995.
28. In the interests of full disclosure, I should make clear that during late Nov. and most of Dec. 1995, I was undertaking fieldwork at Siam Post newspaper, and was therefore a participant-observer in the newspaper's coverage of the Kockums case. This included regular telephone and fax communication with Henrik Westander and SPAS. This article draws upon field notes from this research.
29. For background details see, for example, 'Behind the scenes . . . the submarine political torpedo: national strategy collapses because of political strategy?' Arthit Weekly, 925, 3-9 March 1995, PP. 24-8; Surasak Tumcharoen, 'US subs find little support in bedevilled bidding war', Bangkok Post, 16 Dec. 1995.
30. For background details see, for example, 'Behind the scenes . . . the submarine political torpedo: national strategy collapses because of political strategy?' Arthit Weekly, 925, 3-9 March 1995, PP. 24-8; Surasak Tumcharoen, 'US subs find little support in bedevilled bidding war', Bangkok Post, 16 Dec. 1995.
31. This was actually an over-statement; Westander said simply that the three executives were convicted in court.
32. Henrik Westander, Classified: The Political Cover-up of the Bofors Scandal (Bombay: Gentleman Books, 1992). The book reveals information from classified correspondence between Olof Palme and Rajiv Gandhi.
33. Again, this was a slight embellishment of what Westander had said.
34. Siam Post, 28 Nov. 1995.
35. 'Subs scandal: why worry if there's nothing to hide', The Nation, 29 Nov. 1995.
36. Siam Post, 29 Nov. 1996.
37. Westander made it clear that his source was Swedish in a letter to the Bangkok Post, 16 Dec. 1995.
38. Field notes, Dec. 1995.
39. Paul M. Sherer, 'Scandal pits Thai leaders against media', Asian Wall Street Journal, 5 Dec. 1995.
40. The Nation, 5 Dec. 1995.
41. Reporters' Association of Thailand press release, 5 Dec. 1995, published in Siam Post, 6 Dec. 1996.
42. For full text in Thai, see Siam Post, 5 Dec. 1995. For an English summary, see 'Banharn blames sub allegations on trade conflict', Bangkok Post, 5 Dec. 1995.
43. For full text in Thai, see Siam Post, 5 Dec. 1995. For an English summary, see 'Banharn blames sub allegations on trade conflict', Bangkok Post, 5 Dec. 1995.
44. Henrik Westander, 'Article on the "Sub-Affair" ', faxed press release from SPAS, 4 Dec. 1995. Published in full in Thai translation (and authenticated by reproducing a section of the original press release), Siam Post, 6 Dec. 1995.
45. For a detailed discussion of the 'Dr S' case, see McCargo, Media Machinations (forthcoming).
46. Supridi used these English phrases in his explanation.
47. Many of Supridi's points had been previously mentioned in letters from Dag Tornblom, a retired Swedish Brigadier-General and by Kockums Submarine Systems President Per Johnsson, Bangkok Post, 9 Dec. 1995. Westander responded to these points in a letter published in the Bangkok Post, 16 Dec. 1995.
48. Many of Supridi's points had been previously mentioned in letters from Dag Tornblom, a retired Swedish Brigadier-General and by Kockums Submarine Systems President Per Johnsson, Bangkok Post, 9 Dec. 1995. Westander responded to these points in a letter published in the Bangkok Post, 16 Dec. 1995.
49. Siam Post, 30 Nov. 1995.
50. See Bangkok Post, 16 Dec. 1995.
51. Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda, 'Plot thickens in Kockums bribery scandal', The Nation, 18 Dec. 1995.
52. This was made explicit in an earlier article, 'Coalition blues: rumours of treachery', The Nation, 17 Dec. 1995.
53. See, for example, 'Generals fail to come to grips with information age', Bangkok Post, 1 June 1992.
54. Siam Post, 16 Dec. 1995, The Nation, 16 Dec. 1995.
55. Siam Post, 16 Dec. 1995, The Nation, 16 Dec. 1995.
56. Siam Post, 16 Dec. 1995.
57. The Nation, 5, 6, and 9 Jan. 1996.
58. The Nation, 16 Jan. 1996.
59. Bangkok Post, 16 Jan. 1996; The Nation, 16 Jan. 1996.
60. Bangkok Post, 16 Jan. 1996; The Nation, 16 Jan. 1996.
61. Matichon, 26 Sept. 1997.
62. For a detailed discussion, see Yasuo Hanazaki, 'The Indonesian press in the era of keterbukaan: a force for democratisation?', unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Monash University, 1996.
63. For example, in July 1997 Andreas Harsono, a journalist closely associated with AJI, was attacked in his car in Jakarta. Indonesian newspapers were reluctant to cover the story directly, but when AFP ran a story about the incident, at least one local publication published it as a news agency report (see 'Men attack journalist', Indonesia Times, 27 July 1997).
64. David T. Hill, The Press in New Order Indonesia (Nedlands: University of Western Australia Press, 1994), pp. 130-1.
65. For a relevant discussion, see Glen Lewis, 'The impact of the mid-1997 crash on media freedom in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore', Asia-Pacific Magazine, 1998.
66. See, for example, 'It's not my fault, it's global - PM. Blames media for contemptuous tone of foreign leaders', The Nation, 30 Oct. 1997.
67. See, for example, Surin Maisrikrod and Duncan McCargo, 'Electoral politics: commercialisation and exclusion, in Kevin Hewison (ed.), Political Change in Thailand: Democracy and Participation (Routledge: London 1997), pp. 132-48.