PRESS FREEDOM

Camera in Pheu Thai media room

THE NATION

A closed-circuit television system has been installed in the press room at Pheu Thai headquarters, it was revealed yesterday.

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.

-- The Nation 2012-01-10

So no more press freedom in PT anymore?

Big Brother will watch'ya all....

how much of the camera view is obstructed by the big concrete pole?

Quote :

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.

Unquote

The highlighted comment is totally at odds with the rest of his statement.

Patrick

how much of the camera view is obstructed by the big concrete pole?

The most valuable items in there seem to be the Computers and the kitchen equipment - most of which are not in the view of the camera, so it does not seem likely that security of assets was the main reason for installing the camera in that position!

Patrick

Quote :

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.

Unquote

The highlighted comment is totally at odds with the rest of his statement.

Patrick

"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."

So with the new governmen there is aparently a concern as to the type of people using the facilitis.

What a strange story. A camera in a press room. Who'd have thought it?

how much of the camera view is obstructed by the big concrete pole?

The most valuable items in there seem to be the Computers and the kitchen equipment - most of which are not in the view of the camera, so it does not seem likely that security of assets was the main reason for installing the camera in that position!

Patrick

either it was deliberate in that they want to monitor who is in the room, and not who is coming and going (the doors too are obstructed by the pole), or the guy who installed it didn't think too hard about it.

Pheu Thai Party Dismisses Press Spying Rumor

The Pheu Thai Party denies that it installed a surveillance camera at its headquarters to spy on the press.

There have been reports that the Pheu Thai Party has installed a surveillance camera in the press room at its headquarters located at the OAI Tower Buiding in the Huay Khwang District.

Many people are speculating that the camera, which has a 360 degree rotation capability was hooked up to the security control room and is being used to spy on press correspondents.

Pheu Thai Party Spokesperson Prompong Nopparit dismissed the notion, claiming that the camera belongs to the building owner and is not the party's property.

It was installed to ensure security on the premise.

Prompong pointed out that since the party became the government, the number of people entering their headquarters has increased two or three fold.

Therefore, in an effort to prevent any possible theft or incident, the camera was installed.

The Pheu Thai Party spokesperson added that the same security measures were also taken at their old headquarters in the Rama IV area.

When asked why the camera has to be placed at the entrance to the press room even though there are already security guards nearby, Prompong pointed out that there was a camera there before but it was damaged and never got replaced.

At any rate, he added that it is there for the correspondents' own safety and protection of their property.

He also reaffirmed that the Pheu Thai Party would never violate press rights by spying on them.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-10

He also reaffirmed that the Pheu Thai Party would never violate press rights by spying on them.

"There are plenty of other ways to violate their rights."

They will have to cut back on their nose picking now.

how much of the camera view is obstructed by the big concrete pole?

The most valuable items in there seem to be the Computers and the kitchen equipment - most of which are not in the view of the camera, so it does not seem likely that security of assets was the main reason for installing the camera in that position!

Patrick

either it was deliberate in that they want to monitor who is in the room, and not who is coming and going (the doors too are obstructed by the pole), or the guy who installed it didn't think too hard about it.

Well.I would never have seen that as a possibility in Thailand.

And we won't broadcast audio from the room," he said.

Of course not,only record it for own purposes.

wonder if there is a direct feed from the camera to Dubai ?

wonder if there is a direct feed from the camera to Dubai ?

And thereby hangs the tail, shades of Taxin