PM urged to retract the silly media rules

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Nereus
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PM urged to retract the silly media rules

Post by Nereus »

Retract the 14 silly rules

https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opi ... illy-rules

In just a few days, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has taken a tonne of ridicule about new regulations for media coverage. A 14-point set of so-called guidelines was issued to the press on Friday, especially for photographers. They order news snappers to get prior approval for every set of photos, try to completely ban certain pictures, and even decree that those behind cameras dress better than at present. Some of the orders are more unethical than the actions they seek to regulate.

Because these rules were unnecessary, obviously ill-considered and in at least one case offensive, Gen Prayut's initial reaction deserves notice. For one thing, it is crystal clear that they did not come from the prime minister himself. The issuance of the 14 rules did not go down at all well. He commented within a day that he had seen these "new" regulations three years ago, and that he had no idea why police Special Branch had re-issued and emphasised them on Friday.

There are strong clues, however, on the "why" of this matter. It seems it is no coincidence that the list of 14 rules was handed to media outlets and to photographers almost immediately after a short, testy exchange between reporters and the prime minister at the opening of the Thailand Social Expo 2018 at Impact Muang Thong. Gen Prayut walked away from the gathered press gaggle when they asked him about an inflammatory commentary in The Jakarta Post.

That newspaper's senior managing editor, Kornelius Purba, wrote that the Indonesian government should work to try to block Thailand and Gen Prayut in succeeding Singapore as president of Asean, as scheduled. It said, "If Gen Prayut does not hold a free and democratic election [by November], he should not chair the trade bloc next year." The prime minister refused to comment on this article and walked away. Then the 14-point regulations were handed to the press, with notice they will be enforced.

The most important step by Gen Prayut following the quick public ridicule of the new rules was that he had ordered another look. And in particular, he seeks change for the potentially offensive Rule No.1: "Show respect before and after taking [a] photo".
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Re: PM urged to retract the silly media rules

Post by HHTel »

That newspaper's senior managing editor, Kornelius Purba, wrote that the Indonesian government should work to try to block Thailand and Gen Prayut in succeeding Singapore as president of Asean, as scheduled. It said, "If Gen Prayut does not hold a free and democratic election [by November], he should not chair the trade bloc next year." The prime minister refused to comment on this article and walked away.
Prayut walked away when the press asked questions about the above. On another statement from him was not to politicize the ASEAN chair.

The questions were quite valid. When it was Myanmar's turn for the chair some years ago, other member nations wanted the chair to pass by Myanmar as it was led by a military junta. Myanmar duly passed the chair. Prayut is duty bound to 'pass the parcel' also for the same reason but of course he'll not do that showing him to be irresponsible as usual.
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Re: PM urged to retract the silly media rules

Post by Felipesed1 »

HHTel wrote: Mon Aug 06, 2018 9:55 pm

The questions were quite valid. When it was Myanmar's turn for the chair some years ago, other member nations wanted the chair to pass by Myanmar as it was led by a military junta. Myanmar duly passed the chair. Prayut is duty bound to 'pass the parcel' also for the same reason but of course he'll not do that showing him to be irresponsible as usual.
Well that also disqualifies Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam; Brunei and Singapore would be a bit dubious as well!
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Re: PM urged to retract the silly media rules

Post by HHTel »

None of those countries are run by a military junta. They have different political systems.
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