Camera in Pheu Thai media room

The revolving camera, which was installed at the weekend, can be controlled remotely around the clock from the operation centre, with the live image seen in a control room at the OAI Tower building.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said his party was not involved in the installation. He said the decision to do it was made by the OAI Tower building, where Pheu Thai leases space for its headquarters.
He said the installation was for security reasons because after his party became government there had been a marked increase in the number of people walking in and out of its headquarters.
“We are concerned about security. People with ill-intent might sneak into our office, as well as the media room, to grab some [items],” he said.
“We insist we did not violate the media’s rights. We won’t scrutinise or check who comes to talk to the media. And we won’t broadcast audio from the room,” he said.
Prames Lhekphet, of Thai Journalists Association, asked the party to review and remove the camera from the press centre in order to make the media feel they were able to report freely. “[The camera] may threaten and violate the rights of media in performing their duty,” he said, adding it was not necessary to install the camera in the press room as there were several closed-circuit TVs near the party area, as well as tight security.