The staff of the Voice of America (VOA) Thai-language service say they are saddened by the abrupt end of broadcasts, following President Donald Trump’s order to fire all 1,300 VOA about a week ago.
In a letter addressed to the Thai media and VOA’s Thai audience, written in their personal capacities, the Thai staff said that the Thai language section was established 83 years ago and has a long history of covering the changes in Thai society and global events since.
The Thai service had a mission to present news factually and in a straightforward manner, free from outside interference, and serve as a bridge between Thai people in the US and Thailand.
This has been a norm passed from one generation of staff to another over the years, wrote the Thai staff.
“We did our duty, despite the obstacles, particularly during political upheavals in Thailand, when censorship was imposed. We tried to become the voice of the oppressed, providing the public with information and understanding,” wrote the group in the letter.
“Over our history, we have worked during times when complete censorship was enforced, but we managed to get through by serving as a small channel via which light could be shone into the darkness,” according to the letter.
The staff admitted being saddened by no longer being able to perform their duty, as Thailand has just been downgraded on Freedom House’s freedom index to “not free”.
“We always believe that a free press is a key component of democracy and the sudden disappearance of a medium which presents factual news is an indication of the weakening of the media community and the free world as a whole,” they opined.
The staff then thanked the Thai audience for the confidence they have had in the VOA’s Thai section.
