National Human Rights Commission calls out "threatening" photography of journalists, urges respect for press freedom
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday addressed the issue of a government team photographing journalists while they were questioning the Prime Minister about the Thai-Cambodian border dispute. This incident prompted the Thai Journalists' Association to issue a statement of concern.
Wasan Paileeklee, National Human Rights Commissioner, emphasized that freedom of expression and press freedom are protected under international law, particularly through the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the Thai Constitution, which safeguards the freedom of communication and the press.
He noted that any form of harassment or interference with press freedom not only affects journalists but also impacts the public's access to information, highlighting the saying, "Silencing the media is equivalent to silencing the public."
Wasan further explained that collaboration between sources, politicians, and the media must be based on mutual respect, with a focus on protecting the freedom of communication and expression. He added that the act of photographing journalists and spreading those images to provoke criticism or potential threats to journalists is inappropriate and constitutes an infringement on press freedom.
He also mentioned that the NHRC has been monitoring various freedom-related issues, including press freedom. While complaints regarding media conduct impacting the rights of others, such as defendants, have been addressed in the past, the NHRC will continue to evaluate and act on any complaints if necessary.
Wasan added that professional organizations have already expressed concerns, advising caution, as this could be seen as harassment of the media, thereby undermining press freedom.
