"The challenge to press freedom in Thailand in 2003 was much more critical than the year before. Since the Thai Rak Thai party took power in 2001, press-freedom violations have become much more obvious, and the situation was expected to worsen in 2004, the last year of the current government’s fou ... r-year term. Conflict of interests — between the government’s administrative responsibility and the business interests of political groups within the ruling party — has come into the picture. This has been most noticeable in the area of media and telecommunication business — the Thai Rak Thai’s main financial base. The media industry has been experiencing a high level of interference as acquisition of shares in media companies by groups and individuals with links to politicians or political parties has become common. To date, interference in media has come in various forms, including through content. This situation has become worrisome, putting at risk the country’s independent media and press freedom in Thailand. The violation of press freedom can be described as both structural and cultural. It poses a threat to the media’s system and makeup even as it reflects the media organizations’ weak structures, which have proved too accessible to outside interference. As a result, there has evolved a submissive culture that is vulnerable to intimidation." (Overview, page 1) more