5 April 2006
MEDIA OUTLETS ATTACKED BY PRO-GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS
In Thailand, a series of attacks on critical media outlets in the days leading up to the 2 April 2006 elections prompted calls of concern from the Thai Journalists Association (TJA), the Southeast Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
On 30 March, some 3,000 demonstrators besieged the offices of "Kom Chad Leuk", a newspaper owned by the independent Nation Group after it published remarks by Sondhi Limthongkul, a prominent media tycoon, that were perceived as insulting to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and to Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, reported TJA and SEAPA.
Another 2,000 demonstrators surrounded the Nation Group's head offices and threatened to use violence against the company's staff.
"Kom Chad Leuk" had published an article on 24 March quoting Sondhi as saying that Thaksin's lengthy stay in power obliged the King to take action. The newspaper's chief editors apologised for the story and fired the reporter and editor responsible for the article.
On the same day, supporters of Thaksin attacked Prachuab Wangjai, an editor at the Nation Channel television network, at Chiang Mai University while he was covering a political rally held by the opposition Democrats Party. Prachuab was punched in the head as he and his team were getting ready to leave the rally.
"Kom Chad Luek" has been harassed by the Thai government in the past. More than 20 criminal defamation suits have been filed by government agencies, officials, and their related business interests since Thaksin came to power in 2001, CPJ notes.
In 2002, after the paper published many critical news stories, the government ordered a probe into the financial accounts of several senior Nation Group editors, including chief editor and company founder Suthichai Yoon and senior editor Thepchai Yong. A court later ruled that the government probe was unlawful.
In response to the attacks, the TJA has called on the country's media associations and outlets to join forces to counteract attacks on the press.
Visit these links:
- SEAPA: http://www.seapabkk.org/newdesign/newsdetail.php?No=471
- TJA: http://www.tja.or.th/
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/news/2006/asia/thai31mar06na.html
- IFJ: http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=3811&Language=EN
- Thaksin to Step Down: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4876326.stm
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