Should it be shut down for having "brainwashed" many citizens into becoming members of a political cult, which supports the appointment of 70 per cent of future members of Parliament? And having made them believe that members of the opposite protest group are, to use PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul's words, "all hired hooligans"?

If so, then what about the unabashedly pro-government state-run NBT station, which simply turns a blind eye to government abuses and alleged corruption?

And what about the PAD newspaper, Manager Daily, known in Thai as Phujadkarn, or its extreme pro-government and pro-Thaksin counterpart Prachatouch (not to be confused with prachatai.com online)?

Then what about Thai Public Broadcasting Service, or TPBS, which is now known as TV Thai and is rather anti-government? Should it be shut down too?

The government, even with its extra powers under the emergency decree, should not try to do so.

Some people are concerned about propaganda spread by both sides and even "hate speeches". They fear Thailand will descend into more killing and chaos, and fair enough, given that one protester, believed to be pro-government, was killed early yesterday while some 40 more from both sides were injured - several with bullet wounds.

Over the weekend, this writer overheard an anti-government radio host justifying the PAD raid that put state-run NBT off the air because the TV channel "spat poisonous venom". So, it's not farfetched to imagine both sides justifying more violence.

Nevertheless, the general public must not be tempted to support government censorship or censorship imposed by the PAD - unless some are truly airing extreme hate speeches and calling for opponents to be killed.

The public must try their best to be critical of reports and opinions from both sides and not fall prey to propaganda from either side.

Even if the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej tries to shut down ASTV or ban Manager Daily and other anti-government papers from being published, it will still find it difficult to control and curtail e-mail, Internet chatrooms, mobile-phone SMS, phone and fax lines, plus other new media from spreading information. Indeed, such moves could easily make matters worse, because much "information" is likely to be rumours, which could become widespread. And the public will end up not knowing who or what to believe. It's like a recipe for more chaos and violence.

The other problem is that any person who has to decide what should be censored and what not to ban is most likely to be partial and thus untrustworthy.

So far, both pro- and anti-government media are trying their best to spread their facts (ie, their side of the story only) and outright propaganda.

PAD leader Sondhi told CNN early yesterday the pro-government protesters were "all paid hooligans". He made no mention about being regretful over the death of a protester.

TPBS questioned yesterday who was behind the pro-government demonstrators. But it has never really questioned who is behind the PAD leaders.

Be that as it may, it's the public who will have to learn to become more responsible media consumers, to become vigilant, and try to read, watch and listen to both pro- and anti-government media and decide for themselves who they wish to believe and support. But they must take great care not to fall for propaganda, gross generalisations and hate speeches from either side.

If the public fails to do so, those in power, or the PAD, may try to block people's right to information, and the public could end up being treated like children who can't tell truth from lies, right from wrong, but have to be spoon-fed "appropriate news and information".

Media watchdogs like the Campaign for Popular Media Reform or lecturers in mass communications can help by monitoring both pro- and anti-government media and holding press conferences every few days, or even daily, and letting people know what is outright propaganda, a smear campaign or unjust character assassination.

The public must make it clear they oppose regime change through coups, as this only causes more problems in the long run. They must also not be tempted to accept limits on press freedom and freedom of expression, even if a lot of propaganda is being spread at the moment. People should prove that they are mature enough to decide by themselves what they want to believe, for this is the only way to ensure a mature, democratic and open society.

And for this reason, people should also oppose today's declaration of a state of emergency.