Police Chief Transferred After Allowing Foreign Reporter to Interview Activist

By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

 

A photo shared online depicts an unidentified reporter interviewing activists in front of a cell at Phaya Thai Police Station. Photo: @pui_tuangporn / Twitter

 

BANGKOK — The chief of Phaya Thai Police Station was transferred Friday night after allowing a reporter to interview a jailed pro-democracy activist.

 

Lt. Gen. Charnthep Sesavej, chief of Metropolitan Police Bureau Division 1, said Col. Nitiwat Sansing was removed from his position for misfeasance. The transfer came a day after a foreign reporter was allowed to interview Nuttaa “Bow” Mahattana, an activist jailed for leading a Tuesday protest to mark the fourth anniversary of the military coup.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2018/05/26/police-chief-transferred-after-allowing-foreign-reporter-to-interview-activist/

 

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-05-26

What did he do wrong? What law did he break?

so when do we get to read the interview?

There was one good cop!

9 minutes ago, baboon said:

What did he do wrong? What law did he break?

He is a she, as in the photo, and I agree, what law did she break ? Interviewing extremely dangerous and radical Thais?

Am I missing the obvious here - is it because it was a foreign reporter, not a Thai reporter?

 

5 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Am I missing the obvious here - is it because it was a foreign reporter, not a Thai reporter?

 

19 minutes ago, ratcatcher said:

He is a she, as in the photo, and I agree, what law did she break ? Interviewing extremely dangerous and radical Thais?

I think baboon was referring to the police officer, that’s the impression I have anyway 

Let me guess....transferred to an inactive post!!

Just now, lemonjelly said:

I think baboon was referring to the police officer, that’s the impression I have anyway 

Thank you for that. Indeed, upon rereading the article, baboon was indeed wondering what the police officer had done wrong by allowing the reporter free speech in the detention center. My apologies to baboon 

The policeman was guilty of 'malfeasance' for allowing a foreign reporter (yes, it is the foreign thing that gets to them) to interview the brave prisoner.

 

So such is 'malfeasance' - but incarcerating an innocent person and supporting an illegal government, backing it up all the way - that is not malfeasance - no, no, no.

 

That is being 'a good, obedient, dutiful Thai official'.

 

Thailand hates the light of truth being shone on its misdeeds - and anyone who does is labelled a 'seditionist', or is 'guilty of malfeasance' ('malfeasance' for allowing a press interview  - what a joke - when there are endless, infinite swathes of real corruption and crime going on amongst 'officials' within this country). 

 

Makes me want to puke. The stench of hypocrisy and truth-denial on the part of Thai officialdom is so thick and revolting that even a skunk would be nauseated by its odor.

 

Edited May 26, 20188 yr by Eligius

24 minutes ago, Eligius said:

The policeman was guilty of 'malfeasance' for allowing a foreign reporter (yes, it is the foreign thing that gets to them) to interview the brave prisoner.

 

So such is 'malfeasance' - but incarcerating an innocent person and supporting an illegal government, backing it up all the way - that is not malfeasance - no, no, no.

 

That is being 'a good, obedient, dutiful Thai official'.

 

Thailand hates the light of truth being shone on its misdeeds - and anyone who does is labelled a 'seditionist', or is 'guilty of malfeasance' ('malfeasance' for allowing a press interview  - what a joke - when there are endless, infinite swathes of real corruption and crime going on amongst 'officials' within this country). 

 

Makes me want to puke. The stench of hypocrisy and truth-denial on the part of Thai officialdom is so thick and revolting that even a skunk would be nauseated by its odor.

 

Heavens to Betsy!

 

Eligius-what are you trying to imply??

 

You gotta admit that they moved impressively fast on this one-hyper efficiently,one could say..

2 hours ago, ratcatcher said:

Thank you for that. Indeed, upon rereading the article, baboon was indeed wondering what the police officer had done wrong by allowing the reporter free speech in the detention center. My apologies to baboon 

No need for apologies when you post that beautiful flag...

If this government really were as legitimate and democratically-minded as it has claimed on so many occasions, it wouldn't have any issues with reporters (foreign or local alike) interviewing detained activists such as Bow to present their side of the story.

 

But punishing a police officer for allowing what he probably thought was the right thing to do only goes to clearly demonstrate how oppressive this government in fact is and that it has things to hide.

 

I hope this deplorable incident will be picked up by the world press and disseminated in every corner of the planet. 

6 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Am I missing the obvious here - is it because it was a foreign reporter, not a Thai reporter?

 

Perhaps Man-Child and Dumbo think the rest of the world doesn't know what's going on in Thailand (despite numerous diplomatic missions and foreign correspondents), and thought this one reporter was gonna let the cat out of the bag. Maybe they thought the UK Daily Mail was the only foreign newspaper to ever report on Thailand, and they figured they had that one covered... apart from the slight inconvenience of VPNs, and the fact that Man-Child and Dumbo were confounded when they discovered it was not possible to sue the Internet. 

Oh Dear !!...A high level police officer,  respecting the rules of democracy and freedom of the press !!....shocking !!

20 hours ago, baboon said:

What did he do wrong? What law did he break?

The hidden ones: illegal dissenting, having an own opinion, intent to tarnish the nation's and junta's squeaky clean image, dangerously claiming press freedom, and possible connection to human rights groups.

 

3 minutes ago, Lupatria said:

The hidden ones: illegal dissenting, having an own opinion, intent to tarnish the nation's and junta's squeaky clean image, dangerously claiming press freedom, and possible connection to human rights groups.

 

I think that should be 'criminal intent' as used when eating sandwiches.

 

11 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I think that should be 'criminal intent' as used when eating sandwiches.

 

...you mean eating while listening to La Marseillaise on your tablet?

Sounding more and more and more like China 

7 minutes ago, Lupatria said:

...you mean eating while listening to La Marseillaise on your tablet?

Yeah, but 'sur votre tablette'

 

On 5/26/2018 at 1:02 PM, baboon said:

What did he do wrong? What law did he break?

 

Common sense and good judgement springs to mind.

 

Is it common practice to allow foreign journalists to interview anyone detained and arrested and in police cells in Thailand? If it's common practice, happens all the time, then the Colonel has been treated unfairly. If the policy is not to allow such interviews, then the question of the Colonel's judgement or possible motives come into question.

 

Did he follow the correct procedure? 

1 hour ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Common sense and good judgement springs to mind.

 

Is it common practice to allow foreign journalists to interview anyone detained and arrested and in police cells in Thailand? If it's common practice, happens all the time, then the Colonel has been treated unfairly. If the policy is not to allow such interviews, then the question of the Colonel's judgement or possible motives come into question.

 

Did he follow the correct procedure? 

Doesn't really matter if you do. Not when they can just have you for 'Following the correct procedure with bad motives' or some other fabricated cack...