NBT time-slot planned to counter accusations
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej plans to go on state-run television for one hour every night on week days to respond to the accusations made by the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
He announced on his weekly broadcast yesterday that he would be on air from 10pm to 11pm from Monday to Friday on the NBT channel, which is run by the Public Relations Department.
Mr Samak said he needed to counter the "one-sided accusations" the PAD was delivering on its satellite-based ASTV station.
The prime minister's new show will start today.
He will also continue with his Sunday talk show, which means he will be on air every day except Saturday.
PAD co-leader Pibhop Dhongchai said Mr Samak had the right to respond to the PAD's remarks but he felt the prime minister should not exploit the NBT, which operated on taxpayers' money.
Mr Samak should be on PTV, a satellite TV station funded by government supporters, he said.
Mr Pibhop said he already had an avenue to air his views through his Sunday Sonthana Pasa Samak [Talking Samak-style] show.
He added that accusations made against the Samak government were not groundless.
Government spokesman Wichienchote Sukchoterat said his team of four government spokesmen would run the new television programme to counter the PAD's accusations on a day-by-day basis.
His team would invite the people the PAD targeted on ASTV to defend themselves on NBT.
Invitations to go on the show would be given to the prime minister, other government ministers and officials.
Democrat MP Boonyod Sukthinthai warned the government not to exploit the media as a political tool.
He cited Article 46 of the constitution, which protects the media from coming under the influence of the government or media proprietors.
NBT acting director Suriyong Hunthasan said he was not forewarned of Mr Samak's plan to take airtime on the channel. He only learned of the plan while listening to Mr Samak's address yesterday.
Mr Suriyong said NBT was willing to remove any programme and allow the government to go on air to give its views.
The station has been running a news analysis programme provided by a contractor at the time Mr Samak wants to go on air.
In his Sonthana Pasa Samak show yesterday Mr Samak claimed there were many parties working together to overthrow his government.
He claimed that after the Constitution Court rules on the Thaksin government's two- and three-digit lottery case on July 28, PAD supporters plan to seize provincial halls nationwide to prompt the military to stage another coup to topple his government.
He also accused PAD supporters of using the present constitution - which he considers a tool to end his government - to attack his government, but said they were ignoring other problems the country is facing.
He complained that while the 40,000 signatures senators had collected to back an impeachment motion against his government had been verified, the 20,000 signatures his People Power party gathered to impeach independent organisations, including the National Counter Corruption Commission, had not yet been verified.
The NCCC is proceeding with investigations into corruption involving the Thaksin government.
There was a mastermind behind the differing progress in the signature verification process, Mr Samak claimed.
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