The National Election Committee has gone back on an earlier pledge to buy political parties equal air time on private television and radio because the committee lacks the funds to do so, NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha said last week.
Instead, in its last draft of regulations for the 30-day campaign period leading up to the July 27 general elections, the NEC would require all private media, including newspapers, to offer advertising to all parties without discrimination, Tep Nitha said Thursday.
All parties must be offered the same amount of campaign time or space at the same price. Private media outlets this week said they were willing to abide by this rule.
Apsara television and radio’s general director, Sok Ey San, said Sunday that he would be happy to follow the regulation. “I will base [prices] on market rates and offer air time to all political parties,” he said. “I won’t discriminate against any parties. As a private station, we need the money.”
Beehive Radio owner Mam Sonando and TV3 Program Manager Fay Sam Ang also said they were ready and willing to comply. None of the media officials expressed hesitation to air messages critical of the ruling CPP.
Abandoning the provision promising to buy time for parties was the only significant change the NEC made last week to the previous draft regulations, issued in January. Effective regulation of the campaign period is seen as key to a fair election.
The NEC is due to take its last suggestions from NGOs Thursday and adopt the final regulations shortly thereafter, Tep Nitha said.
The draft regulations have so far been criticized for allowing private vehicles to take voters to polling places, but praised for forcing parties to disclose their assets and expenditures.
