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**Xfxhbcxp** · 09-21-2012, 11:19 PM

Culture czars set to rule on new versions of anthem
The Nation, Published on May 25, 2005

The controversial proposal to officially adopt six new arrangements of the national anthem recorded by a major media company will be submitted to the National Culture Commission (NCC) today for a final decision.

While the existing version of “Phleng Chat Thai” is played every day through government-owned media channels, the Defence Min-istry’s effort to produce a “more in-spiring” version has run into opposition from other government agencies and been criticised publicly.

Among the harshest critics is Culture Minister Uraiwan Thien-thong, who warned yesterday that even if the new versions recorded by media giant GMM Grammy Plc won the culture commission’s endorsement they would still need to face a public hearing.

The minister has made no secret of her opposition to Grammy’s new arrangements of the anthem, saying she hadn’t even bothered to unwrap the demo cassettes containing all six songs sent to her by the company.

“Changing the national anthem is a matter of concern to all Thais – not the private affair of a particular entertainment company,” she said.

Uraiwan was responding to Monday’s statement by the commission’s secretary-general, Prissa-na Phongthadsirikul, that the Cul-ture Ministry was “not against” Grammy recording the anthems.

In late 2003, the Defence Minis-try asked Grammy to come up with a new arrangement of the anthem for broadcasts on government-owned media channels. The idea drew criticism from sections of the public when it was first reported, with some fearing the new arrangements would “dilute” the spirit of the song and the sense of patriotism it is meant to inspire.

Another critic was Amornwit Nakhonthap, a Chulalongkorn as-sociate professor and director of the Ramjitti Institute. He said the en-tire affair needed serious discussion before any final decision was made.

A Culture Ministry lawyer, who asked not to be named, said copyright claims could be utilised by the media company to cite ownership of the approved versions, if no precondition against this was agreed upon before the National Culture Commission made its decision.

09-21-2012, 11:19 PM	#5
Xfxhbcxp Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 428 Senior Member	Culture czars set to rule on new versions of anthem The Nation, Published on May 25, 2005 The controversial proposal to officially adopt six new arrangements of the national anthem recorded by a major media company will be submitted to the National Culture Commission (NCC) today for a final decision. While the existing version of “Phleng Chat Thai” is played every day through government-owned media channels, the Defence Min-istry’s effort to produce a “more in-spiring” version has run into opposition from other government agencies and been criticised publicly. Among the harshest critics is Culture Minister Uraiwan Thien-thong, who warned yesterday that even if the new versions recorded by media giant GMM Grammy Plc won the culture commission’s endorsement they would still need to face a public hearing. The minister has made no secret of her opposition to Grammy’s new arrangements of the anthem, saying she hadn’t even bothered to unwrap the demo cassettes containing all six songs sent to her by the company. “Changing the national anthem is a matter of concern to all Thais – not the private affair of a particular entertainment company,” she said. Uraiwan was responding to Monday’s statement by the commission’s secretary-general, Prissa-na Phongthadsirikul, that the Cul-ture Ministry was “not against” Grammy recording the anthems. In late 2003, the Defence Minis-try asked Grammy to come up with a new arrangement of the anthem for broadcasts on government-owned media channels. The idea drew criticism from sections of the public when it was first reported, with some fearing the new arrangements would “dilute” the spirit of the song and the sense of patriotism it is meant to inspire. Another critic was Amornwit Nakhonthap, a Chulalongkorn as-sociate professor and director of the Ramjitti Institute. He said the en-tire affair needed serious discussion before any final decision was made. A Culture Ministry lawyer, who asked not to be named, said copyright claims could be utilised by the media company to cite ownership of the approved versions, if no precondition against this was agreed upon before the National Culture Commission made its decision.
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