Press Alliance concerned at attacks on media
Play
The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (Seapa) on Tuesday expressed deep concern over incidents at the protests on Monday, which saw media being attacked for their role in reporting unfolding incidents in Thailand.
In its statement issued today, Seapa said simultaneous rallies were held in front of five stateowned TV stations protesting the alleged unfair coverage by the media of demonstrations, which have intensified since the beginning of November.
Nick Nostitiz, a German freelance photojournalist, was attacked by protesters after being singled out in a crowd by the protest leader who urged rally guards to “chase him away.” He was slightly injured in the incident, and was saved from further harm after police led him away from the attackers.
“We must specifically call out the irresponsible action of protest leader Jumpol Chumsai, a former Democrat MP who recently resigned, whose pinpointing of Nostitz triggered the assault,” read the statement.
“It is doubly serious that Nostitz was wearing an armband that clearly identifies him as a journalist, in keeping with measures adopted by the larger media community on how to keep safe. In a highly charged political atmosphere such as a protest, calling on protesters to ‘chase’ a specific person believed belonging to an opposing camp is almost a direct incitement to violence.
“Meanwhile the protests in front of TV stations can be interpreted as a direct coercion for media to report matters according to protesters’ views. These are no different from pressures faced by journalists from media owners and the state to slant news in their favour.”
The Alliance said it feared these incidents indicated a growing intolerance in society as tension built up among political actors, who continued to threaten not just press freedom and professionalism in the country, but also on a larger scale freedom of opinion and expression among the public.
The Alliance added that it was hoped that these two incidents did not mark a dangerous turn in the protests that endanger media freedom and freedom of expression.
“We must emphasise that such incidents are not isolated in the context of Thailand’s ongoing political turmoil, having been committed by both sides of the divide since 2006 – and not just to the media.
“We fully support the statement of colleagues at the Thai Journalists Association – a Seapa member – for calling on both sides not to obstruct the work of the media, and for journalists to exercise their professed duty of keeping the public informed amidst the tense situation.”
