Representatives of the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) and the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association (TBJA) will submit a letter to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Government House on 3 May 2011, asking him to throw support behind the  2011 World Press Freedom Day which falls on the same day. The prime minister will be given a T-shirt pin and a campaign T-shirt to mark this important event.

Meeting with the prime minister of Thailand is one of a wide variety of World Press Freedom Day activities to be launched by the TJA and its four partners including the TBJA, the Confederation of Thai Journalists (CTJ), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization  (UNESCO) and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA).

Other activities to be held under the theme of “Freedom with Responsibility” on Tuesday next week will include issuing a declaration on the Thai media’s stance to help promote world press freedom, hosting a seminar, hosting competition in a video clip presentation, organizing a street parade competition, hosting a campaign rally, distributing 3,000 campaign T-shirts and  2,000 shirt pins.

TJA secretary-general Amornrat Mahitthirook said all of the activities are aimed at raising public awareness of press freedom, freedom of expression and journalists’ code of ethics.

In addition, Amornrat said the activities will be a tool to help build better understanding between professional media and relevant agencies about the rights, liberties and duties of the media.

“We organize the activities in order to celebrate the 2011 World Press Freedom Day and we want to tell the media around the world to unite together and stand up to fight against any threats to press freedom,’’ said Ms Amornrat.

The heads of the TJA and TBJA are expected to begin the day by reading a declaration on the Thai media’s stance to promote world press freedom, and this will be followed by a seminar on media freedom and responsibility. Speakers include Channel 3 news anchor Kitti Singhapat, "Post Today" news editor Pattara Khampithak and media lecturer from Sripathum University Kanchana Meesilpawikai.

A media rally will be held in downtown Bangkok around Siam Center, Maboonkrong Shopping Center and Central World, starting at 3:00 pm.