(September 15, 2019) Thailand is in transition. So is the Mekong region, where more than 60 million residents live and share the same mighty Mekong River. After a difficult period following the 2014 coup, Thailand is moving forward as parties involved attempt to restore democracy.
Political reform, as such, has dominated the country since.
Nevertheless, it’s undeniable that part of the political conflict and division Thailand has long endured is deep-rooted “inequity”. This has long undermined the country’s strength and values — even democracy itself.
While the concerned parties are putting effort into addressing the new political structure and system, this fundamental challenge has somehow been overlooked. In short, it receives far less attention than it deserves.
The Mekong region, meanwhile, is moving through no fewer challenges and transitions. Having picked itself up from the war-torn 1960s, the region is gearing up towards a more comfort zone of economic growth. High income and strong GDP have become the dream of Mekong countries, which aim to turn themselves into middle-income or even developed nations.
But those dreams have come with a price. As the Mekong region has developed rapidly, its foundations—society and the environment—have been compromised. Social and environmental impacts have been documented across the region. The Mekong itself is also plagued with problems shared by all the countries.
Society here is rapidly evolving, too rapidly, as it is trying to pick up the broken pieces and reshape itself into a brand new identity. As a result, a social gap has widened, undermining its foundations.
To navigate this transition period, the region’s social and environmental foundations must be addressed along with development, economic growth, power struggles, and other factors. A crucial element in helping the public understand this challenge is “the power of communication”.
Society here needs to be well-informed so people can understand the issues that matter to their lives and translate that knowledge into “social forces” that drive change.
That said, the media in this region face various challenges, from infringements on press freedom to pressure from commercial and political interests, which, in turn, affect news values and editorial judgments in newsrooms.
Judgments influenced by these factors often prompt newsrooms to leave out important issues that matter to people’s lives. Without essential information reaching the public, people cannot become aware of the challenges they face or take action.
More critically, the social forces that would drive change and shape society into a free and fair setting with strong foundations would never have a chance.
Critical changes in how the media operate here are needed. These include establishing a news agency that is “independent and in-depth”, free from external pressures.
This is to allow the media to maintain their critical and constructive minds without interference: “to bridge the gap” and “connect the dots” so they can deliver meaningful messages and create the big picture critical to public understanding and decision-making. In this way, they can pursue their role as a critical voice that truly serves the public.
With an informed and inspired society, our social forces could take root here to help us address increasingly complex fundamental challenges in this modern time — and bring us hope.
And that’s all the reasons why we “Bangkok Tribune” are here — as the word “Tribune” says it all: The guardian of people’s rights.
Best Regards,
