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February 19, 2008
Heated debate

Yesterday's debate in parliament was called to allow Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to formally present his government's policy and for the opposition to air its views on what the government needed to do. A significant portion of the morning debate, however, centred on the prime minister's alleged role in the events surrounding the Ocotber 6, 1976 student uprising at Thammasat University. How did this relate to the government's policy statement? Read to find out how opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva attempted to tie the two together. And how did Mr Samak defend himself?

air - to say in public what your opinions or complaints are about something
portion - part
alleged - claimed to be true even though this has not been proved
uprising - a political situation in which a large group of people opposes and tries to defeat the government or a ruler

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PM, Dems clash over Oct 6
Samak denies role in shutting newspapers

POST REPORTERS

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej locked horns with the Democrat party yesterday over his role in shutting down newspapers when he was interior minister in the wake of the Oct 6, 1976 student uprising at Thammasat University.

Mr Samak denied any links to the massacre of student protesters and denied he had a role in silencing the media. Instead, he said, he was the one who pushed for the newspapers to re-open.

During the debate on the government's policies in parliament yesterday, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, as leader of the opposition, called on the government to respect the media's role in monitoring the government.

Mr Abhisit spoke of the time when Mr Samak was interior minister in the wake of the Oct 6 massacre.

''During that period a lot of newspapers were ordered closed,'' Mr Abhisit said.

The present government must make sure nothing similar would happen again.

Mr Abhisit said ways of interfering with the media at that time, such as closing newspapers, were different.

Today, meddling with the media was more subtle, such as applying pressure on media organisations and making them fear their business would suffer if they continue to heap criticism on those in power.

Mr Abhisit also wondered why the promise of freedom to information on government organisations and other public media was omitted from the government's policy.

He touched on the spat involving Prime Minister's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair and outspoken former senator Chirmsak Pinthong, whose radio programme was pulled off the air.

Mr Abhisit said Mr Chirmsak should be allowed to do his duty of presenting the facts. His show on FM 105 was axed after airing evidence to counter claims by Mr Samak that only one demonstrator died during the Oct 6, 1976 uprising.

Mr Samak made the comment during a recent interview with CNN and repeated it to a reporter from Al Jazeera TV.

Mr Chirmsak accused Mr Jakrapob of pressuring Fatima Broadcasting International, the Public Relations Department's concessionaire, to end the show.

Mr Abhisit wondered whether the company acted because it was afraid of the government. If the government believed in freedom of the press, it should let Mr Chirmsak return to host the show.

clash - to argue with someone, especially in a heated or angry way
locked horns - became involved with something like a fight or competition
in the wake of - happening after an event or as a result of it
massacre - the action of killing a lot of people
media - newspapers, television, radio, etc.
monitoring - regularly checking something or watching someone in order to find out what is happening
interfering - deliberately becoming involved in a situation and trying to influence the way that it develops although you have no right to do so
meddling - becoming involved in a situation that you have no right to be involved in, especially in a way that is annoying; interfering
subtle - not obvious and therefore difficult to notice
heap - to give a lot of something like criticism or praise
omitted - left out; did not include
touched on - mentioned
spat - a short argument
outspoken - (of a person) stating their opinion honestly, even if other people do not like it
axed - (of a business activity) closed, stopped
counter - to reply to a criticism or statement that you disagree with
concessionaire - a person or company that has the legal right to provide a service or sell things at a place owned by someone else

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