Suranand Denying He's Tried To Stop U S Media From Seeing Abhisit

[webfact]

Suranand denying he's tried to stop US media from seeing Abhisit

BANGKOK, 14 May 2013 (NNT)-The Prime Minister’s Secretary General Suranand Vejjajiva said he has never tried to stop an American journalist from interviewing the Democrat leader as claimed by the Opposition Spokesman.

The Secretary General dismissed the accusation brought by Mr. Chawanon Intarakomalyasut, a Democrat spokesman, who claimed he had tried to prevent the American reporter from seeking an interview with the Democrat Leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Mr. Suranand said the fact was that a newspaper agent in the US had contacted him for economic information to be used in its release of economic supplements to be inserted in that newspaper.

He said the supplement would be a good way to publicize investment opportunities in Thailand to the US readers. The supplement will be distributed during Prime Minister YIngluck Shinawatra’s official visit to the US. He also added that the mentioned newspaper representative was not from USA Today as understood and there was nothing political about it.

Mr. Suranand said he would not press charges against Mr. Chawanon but would rather ask for the latter’s understanding and consideration of national interest.


-- NNT 2013-05-14

[Robby nz]

Mr. Suranand said he would not press charges against Mr. Chawanon but would rather ask for the latter’s understanding and consideration of national interest.

Translation:

I'm not going to try to sue him because I know I would lose but please don't say anything about it as it might give people a bad impression of Thailand.

To late.

[gl555]

Of course you deny it! Like anyone working for Dubai would ever tell the truth!

[rubl]

What the PM SecGen said was another newspaper agent contacted him for economical information. He dismissed the accusation of having blocked an interview and it was another paper anyway?

It's interesting to read the 'ask for understanding and consideration' in the name of national interests of course.

Is this a non-denial, or just government logic?

[smutcakes]

This should all be irrelevant as the Democrats have the proof according to the other thread on here. And as per a lot of what the Dems say when they have proof, we are still waiting.......and waiting..........and waiting.....................

[scorecard]

This should all be irrelevant as the Democrats have the proof according to the other thread on here. And as per a lot of what the Dems say when they have proof, we are still waiting.......and waiting..........and waiting.....................

Yeah, just like waiting for the evidence Jatuporn and the ear medicine man always claim they have (on many occasions), and nothing whatever appears.

Edited May 14, 2013 by scorecard

[smutcakes]

This should all be irrelevant as the Democrats have the proof according to the other thread on here. And as per a lot of what the Dems say when they have proof, we are still waiting.......and waiting..........and waiting.....................

Yeah, just like waiting for the evidence Jatuporn always claims he has (on many occasions), and nothing whatever appears.

What has Jatuporn got to do with this? The Dems said they have evidence of wrong doing, so produce it. Easy and clear cut. However they have form for saying they have evidence and not be able to provide it. ]

[Tatsujin]

This should all be irrelevant as the Democrats have the proof according to the other thread on here. And as per a lot of what the Dems say when they have proof, we are still waiting.......and waiting..........and waiting.....................

Yeah, just like waiting for the evidence Jatuporn always claims he has (on many occasions), and nothing whatever appears.

What has Jatuporn got to do with this? The Dems said they have evidence of wrong doing, so produce it. Easy and clear cut. However they have form for saying they have evidence and not be able to provide it. ]

As does every single member of Parliament, especially the "red" side of the fence. Lots of talk, little action unless it's inciting rioting.

[chainarong]

Some one is handling the truth a little carelessly here, come clean fellas , which one is it , both Ahbisit and the PM should get it all out in the open and lets see who is right and who is wrong, lets all see that e/mail to Abhisit from USA Today. Simple.

[whybother]

What the PM SecGen said was another newspaper agent contacted him for economical information. He dismissed the accusation of having blocked an interview and it was another paper anyway?

It's interesting to read the 'ask for understanding and consideration' in the name of national interests of course.

Is this a non-denial, or just government logic?

Government logic!

"I deny telling a reporter from Newspaper A not to interview Abhisit. .... ... Sorry ... what was the question? What about USA Today? I can't say anything about that."

[tominbkk]

The lady doth protest too much, methinks...

[virtualtraveller]

This should all be irrelevant as the Democrats have the proof according to the other thread on here. And as per a lot of what the Dems say when they have proof, we are still waiting.......and waiting..........and waiting.....................

Yeah, just like waiting for the evidence Jatuporn always claims he has (on many occasions), and nothing whatever appears.

What has Jatuporn got to do with this? The Dems said they have evidence of wrong doing, so produce it. Easy and clear cut. However they have form for saying they have evidence and not be able to provide it. ]

They published an email in which a representative from United Media instructed another staffer to immediately cancel Abhisit's interview because Suranand had threatened 'we can no longer support you' if they went ahead. It was all there in the email. Basically it was a screw up by the guy at United Media Group, accidentally hitting 'reply all' and revealing it to Abhisit's secretary. The interview was cancelled an hour later. Suranand is back-tracking, but United Media have been suspiciously quiet for their ethical misstep.

[SOTIRIOS]

......no specifics, just generalities.....

(...I think someone should check with USA Today and not take his word for it....)

[mca]

self-deleted cos i messed up the post. sorry.

Edited May 14, 2013 by mca

[looping]

If the govt didn't try to stop the interview then, let's do the interview!!!

See what all the fuss is about?

[Robby nz]

He said the evidence came in the form of e-mails exchanged between the newspaper and Abhisit, which clearly showed that Suranand had stopped the interview from taking place. Chavanond said he would submit the evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman.

So he will submit the evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Is that not the correct way to do things?

But the red supporters want it given to them for PT never lie.

[Baerboxer]

He said the evidence came in the form of e-mails exchanged between the newspaper and Abhisit, which clearly showed that Suranand had stopped the interview from taking place. Chavanond said he would submit the evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman.

So he will submit the evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Is that not the correct way to do things?

But the red supporters want it given to them for PT never lie.

Only white lies, little ones Robby, you know for the good of the people and all that.

[bigbamboo]

......no specifics, just generalities.....

(...I think someone should check with USA Today and not take his word for it....)

Considering most Thai politicians lie most of the time why not get US Today to say what happened....if they can be arsed with Thailand that is.

[steveromagnino]

He merely indicated that no advertising would be forthcoming were Abhisit to be interviewed is word on the street.

Same play book as AIS; who used that tactic when Thaksin didn't own it during the period he was PM and it was run by a puppet CEO.

You say anything bad about us, we stop spending any of our 800m baht a year in advertising with you. And we sue you for 500m.