Media groups demand probe after top Thai politician slaps journalist

A senior junta figure from Thailand’s former military government is in hot water over a video showing him slapping a female journalist as she asked him a question in public, rekindling concerns about press freedom in the nation. 

Three Thai media organizations filed a formal complaint on Wednesday against Prawit Wongsuwan, an MP and head of the military-aligned Palang Pracharath Party, over the incident that took place on Aug. 16. 

Representatives from Thai PBS (Thai Public Broadcasting Service), the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association and the News Broadcasting Council of Thailand called for an ethics investigation into Prawit over the incident. They submitted a letter to House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.  

Noppadol Srihatai, executive editor of Thai PBS, emphasized the importance of this complaint in establishing a precedent for media operations. He expressed concern that threats and assaults could infringe on media rights. 

“We cannot remain silent on this matter,” Noppadol told reporters at a news conference. 

“It’s necessary to file this complaint to establish a precedent for media operations. Threats and assaults could infringe upon media rights. As a public media organization, we must protect and safeguard the rights of our reporters.”

Prawit, 79, a former army general, had served as acting prime minister for a week in 2022 when the Constitutional Court dealt with a petition questioning whether the term limit for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha had expired. Up until the 2023 general election, the military ruled Thailand for nine years after seizing power in a military coup in 2014.

In the complaint, Prawit was accused of slapping Duangthip Yiamphop, a Thai PBS reporter. Duangthip had tried to question him about whether he had been following the prime ministerial process that led to the election that same day of Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Prawith’s party was a partner in a ruling coalition led by her Pheu Thai Party until Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was ousted from office by a court order last week. It remains unclear whether Palang Prachararth will join a new coalition under Paetongtarn.   

RELATED STORIES

Thai PM Prayuth, 5 Deputies Survive No-Confidence Vote

Thailand: Prayuth’s Cabinet Unveiled

Thailand Claims no Knowledge of Dissidents’ Forced Return from Vietnam

The incident occurred last Friday at the National Olympic Committee of Thailand office in Bangkok, where Prawit appeared angry and refused to respond to the reporter. 

When questioned, Prawit said, “What? What are you asking?,” according to their exchange in Thai that was heard in the video.

Prawit has not publicly addressed the complaint, nor has Paetongtarn, the new prime minister, and her Pheu Thai Party.

Following the incident, Gen. Natt Intracharoen, former permanent secretary of defense and a close associate of Prawit, told journalists that Prawit had spoken with the reporter by phone. 

He said Prawit had no intention of causing physical harm and that it was merely playful behavior because of their previous working relationship. 

Ittipan Buathong, president of the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, dismissed Natt’s claim that the incident was overblown. 

“We believe that this behavior cannot be considered playful,” Ittipan said. “Any reasonable person who has seen the footage from various angles would question whether this was just horsing around.”  

Incidents involving Prawit

This is not the first time Prawit has been involved in controversies involving journalists.

In April 2019, a video showed him appearing to punch a military affairs reporter who called it playful behavior. 

In March 2021, Prawit questioned a reporter’s educational background when asked about ministerial qualifications within his party. 

In early 2018, Thai and international media questioned the collection of expensive watches and a diamond ring in the former general’s possession. The Associated Press news service posted a 2017 photograph showing the ring and one of the watches as Prawit used his hand to shade his eyes during a government ceremony.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) determined in December 2018 that there was “insufficient evidence” that he intentionally failed to claim over two dozen watches as assets, the Reuters news service reported.

The case resurfaced last year when the nation’s Supreme Administrative Court dismissed an NACC appeal of a lower court ruling that it must disclose its findings regarding Prawit’s watches, nationthailand.com reported.

Long-term consequences

Media analysts have expressed concern over the latest incident’s potential impact on press freedom. Nguyen Thu Anh, a lecturer in journalism at International College, warned about the long-term consequences of such behavior. 

“This incident is a severe form of media intimidation, reflecting an attempt to exert power over media operations,” Nguyen told BenarNews. 

“It poses a direct threat to media freedom and democracy. In the long term, it will affect the ethical courage of journalists who should be able to perform their duties without being threatened or intimidated.” 

Tewarit Maneechai, a senator from the media sector, commented on the broader implications of this incident. 

“Media professionals should not view this problem as trivial,” he told BenarNews. 

“All those in power should understand that journalists are not subordinates, public relations officers or playmates. They carry questions from the public, whether those questions are pleasing or not.”