Thailand's independent press finds itself prompted to take its role as a watchdog to new heights, given a recent political deal struck by the government that gives it unprecedented power in parliament.

Some journalists are already talking in terms of the newspapers emerging as the only independent institution in the country left with a voice strong enough to challenge, question and hold accountable the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

''The year ahead will be a challenge, because the independent media are emerging as the only institution with strength to counter the prime minister's new powers,'' says Thepchai Yong, group editor of the English-language newspaper The Nation . ''We will have to work harder to monitor the administration.''

For Veera Prateepchaikul, the free press has to take on the role of the country's opposition in a more strident manner. ''We will have to supplement the weakness created in the parliament, make up for the loss of dissent,'' asserts Veera, deputy news editor at another English daily, the Bangkok Post .

Both are concerned about last week's merger between Thaksin's dominant Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thai) party and the smaller opposition New Aspiration Party. The alliance means Thaksin will have the support of 289 members in the 500-seat House, made up of 255 from Thai Rak Thai and the 34 from New Aspiration.

The prospect of another political marriage appears to be in the offing  Chat Pattana, a small party sitting in the opposition ranks, merging with Thai Rak Thai. An impending Cabinet reshuffle will be the deciding factor is this merger, say political analysts.

Political monopoly

The prime minister is, quite understandably, buoyant at the political monopoly he has achieved a year after his party swept to power through one of the biggest popular mandates ever for a Thai government.

Thaksin sees it as an essential feature to achieve his political and economic vision for the country: greater political stability for the 10 years that he says his party would be able to stay in power. This, he said, will help create a national administration to achieve the economic successes of neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore.

The merger also satisfies another pet ambition of Thaksin  the establishment of a two-party system with the opposition Democrat Party. ''We used to have so many political parties that we could not remember their names,'' the prime minister was quoted as having told the local media this week.

Political mergers, in fact, are nothing new to Thaksin, one of this country's richest businessmen. His Thai Rak Thai party brought together other small political parties to face last year's election on a common platform.

Dangerous trend

Little of this, however, has impressed the free media fraternity here, or human rights activists for that matter. They perceive a dangerous political trend in the offing based on Thaksin's record during his first year in office this month.

''One concern is the government's control of the bureaucracy,'' says Thepchai. ''The government has tried to maintain tight control on bureaucrats speaking to the press. This will grow tighter and bureaucrats will not be able to say anything critical about government policy to journalists.''

''Trying to become a Singapore or Malaysia at the price of suppressing criticism and dissent is not the way,'' Veera argues. ''The state of the media in Singapore and Malaysia is well known. They are not free.''

Human rights activists also worry about the country's constitution being amended to dilute or reduce the constitutional mechanisms of checks and balances.

''He will have enough parliamentary support to introduce amendments to consolidate his power at the expense of some important democratic features,'' reveals Somchai Homlaor, who heads Forum-Asia, a Bangkok-based regional rights watchdog.

False security

In an editorial this week, the Thai-language Matichon newspaper said that Thaksin's government has made a number of achievements and that stability is welcome in Thai politics. But it also said that ''Absolute power corrupts absolutely. And a powerful government can get carried away by its false sense of security.''

The newspaper also advises the Thaksin government to listen to public opinion. Indeed, Thaksin's one year in office has been marked with several brushes with the press.

Since assuming office, he has been harsh on critics and voices of dissent across the political and social spectrum. Academics and civil servants who openly questioned government policies are among those who have felt the heat.

In August, the media exposed the government's attempt at media manipulation through economic pressure and backroom business deals. ''With the skillful application of money and personnel, his (Thaksin's) government is effectively influencing, coercing and undermining the Thai media as never before,'' Kavi Chongkittavorn of The Nation wrote at that time.

Growing pressure

There were also more brazen attempts at censorship that month. The Royal Thai Police visited two newspapers to warn them after they published reports by foreign news agencies on the wealth concealment case of Thaksin, of which he was acquitted on Aug 3.

Lately, the government has made bold its plans to control the news content in the state media, made up largely of the radio and television stations.

''The government wants to do so through setting up an information centre,'' says Chavarong Limpattamapanee, secretary-general of the Thai Journalists Association, referring to a centre that government officials say is designed to give the right information to journalists but which the media says is an attempt to influence coverage.

''He doesn't like criticism,'' adds Veera of the prime minister. ''Now the opposition in the parliament will also have no power to challenge him.''

However, as Thepchai admits, the press' bolder efforts to be a vibrant opposition in the prevailing political climate may not be easy. In addition to expected pressure from the government, he says, ''Thai public sentiment that cannot be ignored''.

''The Thaksin government is enjoying overwhelming support for its programmes,'' says Thepchai. ''It will not be easy to openly criticise the government, particularly on this issue.''

So far, he adds, there has been little public criticism of the merger between Thai Rak Thai and the New Aspiration Party, and its potential effect on checks and balances in government.

The public seems to be willing to overlook the dangers of the merger,'' Thepchai argues. ''There has been no backlash, no reaction with concern.''