THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS HAVE BEEN A challenging time for journalists, as many of our colleagues went to Thailand to cover the volatile situation in that country, ignoring the danger of being targeted for letting people know the true stories behind the scenes. Obviously, certain groups of people in Thailand were not happy with the fact that what was being reported on a regular basis by the foreign media did not always coincide with the official or partisan versions of the news. The result is that two of our brave colleagues from Japan and Italy were shot and killed by unidentified gunmen, and many, including local journalists from Thailand, have been injured by shrapnel or gun shots.

The situation once again calls for a thorough review of how the concept of the freedom of the press is to be upheld and protected in a situation like the one in Thailand where the two opposing sides clashed head-on for almost two months. Both sides wanted their version of the story to be reported by the international media. We do not deny the fact that it’s the primary responsibility of the government to ensure that visiting foreign media representatives do not fall prey to any specific group for trying to report what is happening in the streets. Both of our fallen colleagues were performing this responsibility when they were shot. We would therefore once again like to urge the government of the Kingdom of Thailand to investigate the incidents and disclose what really happened and who should be held responsible for these unhappy incidents. This is particularly important in order to make sure such sad episodes are not repeated anywhere in the world.

Another disturbing incident in Thailand also raises the ethical issue of protecting the professional interest of journalism. A renegade Thai general was targeted by snipers while he was giving an interview to a foreign journalist. He fell to the ground instantly and later died at a hospital. The fact that he was talking to the media at the time he was shot raises the ethical issue of targeting someone while the person is talking to journalists. Any such moment is supposed to be the safest of all, as the victim in this case must have taken it granted that nobody would dare touch him while giving an interview. I have no other similar incident in my recollection that can match what happened on a busy street in Bangkok on that particular day. Protecting the safety of the persons we talk to in the process of newsgathering is a moral responsibility of journalism that deserves due respect from everyone else. Here again, we see a moral boundary that has been demolished just for upholding narrow self-interest.

The post-crackdown media situation in Thailand is a typical one where censorship and accusations of biased reporting run hand-in-hand. The government of Thailand is unhappy with the foreign media, particularly when it sees reporting favoring the group opposing the government. Strict media censorship has been imposed in Thailand to ensure what the government might claim as an essential step to “protect the national interest,” whereas the foreign media is systematically blamed for taking the side of the street demonstrators. This in itself comes as confirmation that our brave colleagues who went to Bangkok at the time of crisis were not intimidated by what was happening, including the killing of two foreign journalists. They deserve our praise.

The term of the present Board is nearing its end, with elections for a new Board set for the end of June. The current Board of Directors has tried its best to steer the Club out of its financial crisis and also to keep a sound management system in place following the departure of the General Manager. The Club’s finances are still in the red, though the burden seems to be more at a tolerable level than what we inherited. The system of Club management remains ad hoc, and it will now be up to the next Board to decide how to move forward on this. How far the Board has succeeded in achieving its goals is a matter for the membership to judge. However, what I can assure you is that all the members of the current Board have put in their best efforts for the Club to maintain the high standards and reputation that the FCCJ has earned during its 65 years of its existence.

– Monzurul Huq