National —
On August 17th, 2024, the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association and the National Broadcasting Council issued an official statement condemning the use of power to intimidate the media during news reporting.
The incident in question occurred during an interview with Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, following the parliamentary session on August 16th, 2024, where the new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was elected.
The statement expressed concern over what it described as a clear display of anger and intimidation towards a journalist who asked questions during the interview of opinions on the new-elect Prime Minister.
Despite the explanation from Gen. Prawit’s team that the interaction was merely a long-standing joke between familiar parties, the media organizations emphasized that the footage indicated otherwise. The statement warned against normalizing such behavior, which could undermine the role of the media.
The associations also announced their intent to investigate the incident under the ethical standards for MPs, citing potential violations of Sections 12 and 13 of the 2020 Code of Ethics, which require respect for individual rights and prohibit threats or violence.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
