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Today is World Press Freedom Day and the global situation is not promising, with that very freedom deteriorating in two-thirds of countries, according to an analysis published last week by the advocacy group Reporters without Borders. It examined relative freedom of news outlets and journalists in 180 nations and found democracies and dictatorships alike increasingly shrinking the capacity of newspeople to get the truth to the public.

In countries ruled by dictators, media people are intimidated through surveillance, summonses, arbitrary detention, physical assault and even murder. In democratic territories, libel laws and quasi-legal tools are used, and there is a rising tendency among high-level politicians to use their power to quash stories they dislike.

Thailand fares poorly in the 2017 World Press Freedom Index prepared by Reporters without Borders. Its ranked 142nd among the 180 countries, down six places from last year.

This years commemoration of World Press Freedom Day coincides with the governments attempt to further restrict media freedom through a controversial regulatory bill that was readily endorsed on Monday by the National Reform Steering Assembly.

Thailands record on press freedom has been poor since the military coup in May 2014, as Reporters without Borders noted in its summary. It said the junta keeps journalists and citizen-journalists under permanent surveillance, often summons them for questioning, and detains them arbitrarily. The media regulatory legislation, if it becomes law, would worsen the situation tremendously.

A major concern regarding the bill involves the inclusion of government representatives including the permanent secretary of the Prime Ministers Office in a so-called media professional council to regulate the industry.

Prominent media figures have objected, warning against what they say is a blatant attempt at government interference. Critics suspect the proposed legislation has the backing of powers-that-be who want to ensure there are media controls in place once they return to power after an election.

In fact the new law is wholly unnecessary. There are ample legislation and guidelines already in place to control the behaviour of media outlets and professionals, as well as traditional adherence to industry ethics and the willingness of most news outlets to voluntarily restrain their reporting on sensitive issues.

It must be acknowledged that the self-regulatory approach adopted by media groups has in the past often failed to adequately punish professionals who committed wrongdoing. The usual escape from punishment entails resigning their posts so that industry watchdogs no longer have the power to deal with them. If proponents of the bill want a professional council with the legal authority to regulate the industry, it cannot have government representatives among its members. Their presence would be an obvious contradiction to the principles and practice of a free media.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday told media leaders who protested against the bill at Government House that he recognised the important role the media play in society. He said the media expose both the positive and negative aspects of government and thus give the people in power a realistic view of where the administration stands in the publics perception. The premier, assuming he was sincere when he said this, should ensure that the proposed law is cleansed of any clauses designed to tighten government control over the media or otherwise restrict press freedom.

This wasnt the first time General Prayut has alluded to the benefits of having a free press. One of those benefits that any government leader must be aware of is that the overarching duty of the news media is to protect the public and the national interest. But perhaps that role is precisely what the corrupt and dictatorial elements in government are seeking to curb.

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Press Freedom Day holds grim irony for Thailand - The Nation