Police fail to see significance of intimidation

COMMENTARY

Police fail to see significance of intimidation

Published: 12/12/2011 at 02:47 AM
Newspaper section: News

Somjit Navakruasunthorn is a political reporter for the army's Channel 7 television station based at the parliament. As an inquisitive reporter, her job is not just poking a microphone or a tape recorder in front of a politician being interviewed as can be seen from most reporters in a group interview inside the parliament. She asks questions and, sometimes, is so persistent with getting answers for her questions that she annoys some interviewees. Well, that is what a good reporter is supposed to do _ be inquisitive.

But not many politicians like to deal with inquisitive reporters. Parliament-based reporters said former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva sometimes was seen feeling uncomfortable with some of the questions posed by Ms Somjit but he did not walk away and tried his best to answer.

Ms Somjit has used the same approach with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. But Ms Yingluck is not Mr Abhisit. In one encounter with the inquisitive TV reporter, she did not answer her questions and just walked away. And that incident was the cause of hostile emails in the social media against the reporter. The email together with Somjit's picture was allegedly posted by Porntip Paksanont, chief of the Petchaburi branch of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, aka the red shirt movement. The email reads: "This is the face of the reporter who caused Prime Minister Pou [Yingluck's nickname] to walk away. She is a reporter of Channel 7. Remember her face so that when she is seen anywhere, please 'take care' of her".

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About the author

: Writer: Veera Prateepchaikul; Position: Former Editor

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Ian Wensor
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Discussion 29 : 09/02/2012 at 07:31 AM29
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One question reporter khun Somjut should ask if she's so impartial is:- 'Why are only the homeless and beggars being cleared out of prime tourist areas in the south while jet ski scams and the like, backed by mafia style thugs and corrupt police, are doing their image - FAR GREATER HARM'?
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bennu
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Discussion 28 : 19/12/2011 at 05:54 PM28
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A dreadful interpretation of the facts. They say don’t shoot the messenger, but this is the world upside down. To inhibit reporters is to inhibit freedom of press. Besides the point of the mail is completely invalid, and has no rational basis.
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wyattearp
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Discussion 27 : 19/12/2011 at 01:52 PM27
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This is a good topic: That YS is criticised for being arrogant and not taking questions. Remember when TS used yellow and red cards to respond. If she refuses questions merely because she is in power, people will tire of an arrogant government eventually. But be patient; this may take a long time using proper democtatic processes.
As for the verbal threats on the journalist, these are veiled, but when there's violence against reporters (or the opposition) then the police must ensure the perpertators of this kind of political intimidation are dealt with. If there is no action taken against this type of intimidation, then press rewind, Thailand is heading back to the scenario which caused the coup against TS in the first place.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 26 : 14/12/2011 at 10:56 AM26
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bangmodken D25 - "several UDD propaganda outlets were shut down because they incited hate & violence"
The 60 stations were shut down under accusations of LM, not for violence. The warrants issued also mentioned nothing about inciting hate or violence. See the report by Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/04/27/thailand-authorities-silence-red-shirt-community-radios
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bangmodken
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Discussion 25 : 13/12/2011 at 09:52 PM25
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D23 & D24 : Could you please provide us with evidence to support your claims? Thank you.
What I think you meant was that several UDD propaganda outlets were shut down because they incited hate & violence.Would incitement of hate and violence be permitted in your homeland,the U.S.?
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johninbkk
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Discussion 24 : 13/12/2011 at 09:51 AM24
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That email was written in poor taste, I agree, but emails like this are written about YS and TS on a daily basis. Where is the author's condemnation?

"I wonder what would have happened if she was a reporter on one of the other television stations."
You mean one of the 50 UDD radio and TV stations shut down by AV last year, because the 'red' reporters asked the wrong questions?
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johninbkk
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Discussion 23 : 13/12/2011 at 12:17 AM23
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That email was written in poor taste, I agree, but emails like this are written about YS and TS on a daily basis. Where is the author's condemnation?

"I wonder what would have happened if she was a reporter on one of the other television stations."
You mean one of the 50 UDD radio and TV stations shut down by AV last year, because the 'red' reporters asked the wrong questions?
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paul_giles
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Discussion 22 : 12/12/2011 at 11:49 PM22
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Excellent comment from whatajoke @D13 (no surprise), and also barryw @D20.

When Yingluck the candidate refused to debate AV the encumbant PM (which is astounding for any democracy) it was a clear sign of what people could expect from her press communications. For this act alone, she showed that she had no decency, dignity, or honor, just supreme sneakiness and arrogance.
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fundeena
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Discussion 21 : 12/12/2011 at 07:58 PM21
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Remember as well, the two protesters who were beat up by the redshirts. No charges were laid, because they were'just kicked a little'. No police presence during the big protests and no charges against redshirts. Coincidence, I'm sure.
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barryw
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Discussion 20 : 12/12/2011 at 06:56 PM20
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Everyone here appears to have missed the point - it is deeply rooted in Thai culture that you do NOT challenge or question those who are higher up the social ladder than you. The result is a press that is unable to function as it would in any advanced society, as well as a country riddled with inefficiency because the boss cannot be challenged.
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