Khao Sod editorial: Following the right way - November 11, 2005 Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Wantana, Minister of the Interior, agrees with the idea of Mr. Kosin Ketthong, the Assistant of Interior Minister, on the way of solving problems in the three southern provinces. That is, to move people from the Northeast to replace population from the area including to arrange draftees to be ordained in the abandoned temples. It seems a suggestion that does not understand the cause and problem so this cannot be the right way to solve things. There is some group trying to to terrorize and separate, but no matter the quality or quantity of the movement, these people cannot succed from killing and terrorizing. The cause of the violence and unrest are extending and increasing in level and area and the important factor is that most people in the area do not trust the government officers. The government officers do not trust by people because they do not understand the root and culture so they do not perceive the movement of the terrorists. As they understand and be in line of the truth, people will cooperate, and the authorities will be able to get useful information, solve the problem, and stop the violence. If the government realizes that it is a part of extending and prolonging the southern problems, it will realize that the priority is to solve problems at the level of the government and officers. Studying the truth in the area, the truth of life, culture and religion, the source of the problem can be understood clearly and the government will be able to propose the right solution and be in line with the truth. It is important not to suggest nonsensical ideas that make the problem extended. If we do not know and do not study, cooperating to solve problems will be in turmoil. More on Troubles in the South Matichon editorial: The accusation about a secret prison and criticism of Matichon - November 8 2005 Again PM Thaksin Shinawatra blames newspaper that reported news that Washington Post claimed that the CIA built a secret prison for Al-Queda detention in eight countries including Thailand. He accused the newspaper Matichon of taking the story and expanding it. He also said the press must thing of the nation first and not present news that causes damage, bad image, and makes foreign countries misunderstand. Although this is not the first time that PM Thaksin commented that the press should report less, this time he accused Matichon of taking the story to expand it. This is a serious accusation and cannot be accepted. This accusation means that Matichon had bad attention to its duty although reporting news is a normal duty of mass media which presents the public truth from every side. For the 'secret prison' news, if it is not reported, Thai people will not know there is an accusation that Thailand is one of network for settling by a secret prison for America. Moreover presenting news of the secret prison does not mean that the Thai press or mass media operators believe in that news. They tried to check the truth and ask for an explanation from Thai government spokesmen from the PM office. We published his explanation at the same time as reporting the Washington Post story to let people know every side of the story so they can decide what to believe. It is a democratic principle that people have the right to information. It is true that there is much news sifted through society before presentation and it is one of important jobs of mass media to be the “gate of the news.” But this duty must be exercised carefully so as not to become the “father who knows well” and who decides for people what is true and not true. Thus the mass media could not present news as is its duty and at the same time present Thaksin’s words on the matter as true. There are many things Thaksin spoke which are not true such as the explanation of the Muslim lawyer who disappeared because of his family problems, the treasure golden trove at Lijea cave, or the news of buying the Liverpool football team. It is right that PM Thaksin loves the nation and tries to have others love the nation like him. But if he set his consciousness a little bit, he will find that mass media operators love the nation as well. Thaksin does not have a monopoly on love and thinks that others who do not think or operate the same as him do not love the nation. True love for the nation must be proved by practice--not word only. More: Unlocking the Thai world: Thai-language newspaper headlines