Prayut lambastes paper that picks on him

[webfact]

Prayut lambastes paper that picks on him
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha Wednesday lambasted an unnamed newspaper, saying it criticised him everyday on every page.

He said he would lodge a complaint with the press association against the newspaper. Prayut said the paper made him angry, and thus reduce his demeanour as the prime minister.

"I have been tolerating this paper for a long time. It criticises me on every issue and on every page," Prayut said.

"I don't know what's wrong with the paper. It criticises everyone who becomes prime minister. What's good about this kind of practice?"

Prayut said he did not want to buy this kind of paper but that it was always brought to him to read.

"I don't want to read it because I become angry when I read it and this casts me in a negative light, Prayut told the media at a press conference to announce his government's performance after three months in office.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Prayut-lambastes-paper-that-picks-on-him-30250654.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-25

[jacky54]

On every page? the man doth protest too much

[khwaibah]

I'm going tell my mommy.....

[iReason]

"...made him angry, and thus reduce his demeanour as the prime minister."

An understatement.

Not even a civil human:

"...this casts me in a negative light"

The Paper does this?

[peptidebomber]

Imagine if there was actually press freedom and they could write the truth!

[Chang_paarp]

"I don't know what's wrong with the paper. It criticises everyone who becomes prime minister. What's good about this kind of practice?"

Two points to note;

1) It would seem this unnamed paper is fair and reasonable, as all the PM's I have observed in the past decade or so really need some criticism or a reality check.

2) This is not the first PM in that time to complain about being criticised, but if things go the way they do with this bloke, this is the first one to not have enough of a thick skin to ignore the barbs of the press and get on with the job at hand.

[ratcatcher]

On every page? the man doth protest too much

I see your point.

[Bwanatickey]

Did I read this correctly, he is angry with one newspaper.

Anger management problems.

Could it be the Washington Post reporting watergate .

[happynthailand]

I'll give you a hint it starts with an "N"

love the cartoons,they do it to everyone,don't see a problem

[dominique355]

It has been said before : If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Nobody forced you to be the chef.

[greenchair]

I'll give you a hint it starts with an "N"

love the cartoons,they do it to everyone,don't see a problem

Oh I thought he was talking about thai visa forum. Does have a tendency to put his foot in it.

[Robby nz]

No doubt he reads different papers from me as he will be reading Thai and I read the online English versions.

However the ones I read don't pick on him as such but mostly criticize policy and statements, or should the term be 'comment on' for at times the comments are favorable rather than critical.

That must be good for it gives different views on things that makes people who read them think. (Hint to some posters)

He really needs to try to understand that while an army general is in a "Yes sir" position and doesn't get criticized a PM is a different situation and the people are not his subordinates who must obey orders.

[djjamie]

Maybe Prayut should tackle it this way. Newspapers considered “critical” of the government can have their advertisements pulled, first by the advertising agency owned by Prayut family members, then later by state enterprises under government control. Toeing the government line could bring financial rewards. “Friendly” newspapers could be pleasantly surprised by the increased advertisements from business concerns related to the country’s CEO’s empire. It worked for thaksin.

Besides, I thought bad military Junta's just shut down newspapers that complain. I thought that bad military Juntas arrested the staff of these papers? Nope? None of that here. What does this ex military PM do?Lodges a complaint with the press association. How refreshingly democratic.

And for him to complain it seems that freedom of the press is alive and well.

The doom and gloomers must hate this.

Edited December 25, 2014 by djjamie

[mikemac]

Imagine if there was actually press freedom and they could write the truth!

Wouldn't that be lovely ? But would that prevent people suing newspapers for libel ?

And I believe a lot of the PM's detractors are also supporters of Thaksin, not all but a lot. So it made me laugh when I stumbled across this quote from a story about TS when he ruled Thailand - "Thaksin's government was accused of exerting political influence in its crackdown on unlicensed community radio stations, and Thaksin brought massive defamation suits against critical journalists."

POT - KETTLE - BLACK

[gemini81]

Dare stand in the limelight, dare to face criticism despite trying to shut down avenues of media & exposure. If you want no criticism, can think of only one small country to model after.....

[kimamey]

Maybe Prayut should tackle it this way. Newspapers considered “critical” of the government can have their advertisements pulled, first by the advertising agency owned by Prayut family members, then later by state enterprises under government control. Toeing the government line could bring financial rewards. “Friendly” newspapers could be pleasantly surprised by the increased advertisements from business concerns related to the country’s CEO’s empire. It worked for thaksin.

Besides, I thought bad military Junta's just shut down newspapers that complain. I thought that bad military Juntas arrested the staff of these papers? Nope? None of that here. What does this ex military PM do?Lodges a complaint with the press association. How refreshingly democratic.

And for him to complain it seems that freedom of the press is alive and well.

The doom and gloomers must hate this.

There's certainly some truth in what you say. It might help if he cited specific reports and answered them though.

[swissie]

Respect. The man has an agenda. He wants to be a Dictator, elected as such, come next "Election.". Beforehand, any sort of opposition has to be stifled.

Concerns for the Farang? Not really. Except there will only be 2 visa's available left: Tourist visa / retirement visa. All other "acrobatic" visa's in between will not be available anymore.

Cheers.

[daveAustin]

What a big girl's blouse! That's what being the 'leader' of a country entails, friend; being questioned and criticized. Being of military origins, one is not used to 'abuse', eh, but you're a politician now, ole fella, so do what the rest of them do... grow an extremely thick skin and ignore or get out of the kitchen! Happy Christmas, btw.

[LuckyLew]

How dare that paper have an opinion of their own

[nong38]

Comes with the job, same everywhere.

Next!!

[inzman]

Can't have free thinking or free will here. No open discussions like most mature societies. Becoming a lot like North Korea I think. I hope it doesn't get worse.

[MaxLee]

"...made him angry, and thus reduce his demeanour as the prime minister."

An understatement.

Not even a civil human:

"...this casts me in a negative light"

The Paper does this?

Be careful, posting that or, the Junta is gonna ban our favorite videostreamer....

[JOC]

"I have been tolerating this paper for a long time. It criticises me on every issue and on every page," Prayut said.

"I don't know what's wrong with the paper. It criticises everyone who becomes prime minister. What's good about this kind of practice?"<< Quote

I didn't know that Thaivisa had a print-version!!

[smutcakes]

Slightly worrying that the former head of the army is so thin skinned!

Any neighboring armies should put their weapons away and grab their dictionaries.

[JOC]

and thus reduce his demeanour as the prime minister."

He don't need the media's help to do that. Doing an excellent job himself!!

[ianf]

The point he may be making is that some journalists see their role as wall-to-wall criticism. Some journalists make an art of negativity and do not mention/stress/point out the positive things. Constructive criticism is obviously important but destructive criticism is a bit weary. I think it may have something to do with journalists trying to be noticed, trying to be more radical than their colleagues, trying to be holier than thou or simply trying too hard. Perhaps they're trying to build a career in which case truth, honesty and intelligence takes a back seat. I have some sympathy for dear leader.

[brucec64]

Maybe Prayut should tackle it this way. Newspapers considered “critical” of the government can have their advertisements pulled, first by the advertising agency owned by Prayut family members, then later by state enterprises under government control. Toeing the government line could bring financial rewards. “Friendly” newspapers could be pleasantly surprised by the increased advertisements from business concerns related to the country’s CEO’s empire. It worked for thaksin.

Besides, I thought bad military Junta's just shut down newspapers that complain. I thought that bad military Juntas arrested the staff of these papers? Nope? None of that here. What does this ex military PM do?Lodges a complaint with the press association. How refreshingly democratic.

And for him to complain it seems that freedom of the press is alive and well.

The doom and gloomers must hate this.

Actually, it seems that the junta control of the press is not focused on exclusion of news stories, but more on the inclusion of nonsensical propaganda pieces, usually trumpeting the “understanding” of foreign governments for the junta’s repression.

[Robby nz]

The point he may be making is that some journalists see their role as wall-to-wall criticism. Some journalists make an art of negativity and do not mention/stress/point out the positive things. Constructive criticism is obviously important but destructive criticism is a bit weary. I think it may have something to do with journalists trying to be noticed, trying to be more radical than their colleagues, trying to be holier than thou or simply trying too hard. Perhaps they're trying to build a career in which case truth, honesty and intelligence takes a back seat. I have some sympathy for dear leader.

You may or may not have noticed but that goes for many posters on here, in fact more so in some cases.

[kaobang]

"...made him angry, and thus reduce his demeanour as the prime minister."

An understatement.

Not even a civil human:

"...this casts me in a negative light"

The Paper does this?

the video is terrible.

it reminds me Kim and his generals always ready to laugh when he talks

welcome to the club of leaders who see the media just like a tool for propaganda Putin Kim Erdogan....

his wife and twin daughters are probably still crying

Edited December 25, 2014 by kaobang

[smutcakes]

The point he may be making is that some journalists see their role as wall-to-wall criticism. Some journalists make an art of negativity and do not mention/stress/point out the positive things. Constructive criticism is obviously important but destructive criticism is a bit weary. I think it may have something to do with journalists trying to be noticed, trying to be more radical than their colleagues, trying to be holier than thou or simply trying too hard. Perhaps they're trying to build a career in which case truth, honesty and intelligence takes a back seat. I have some sympathy for dear leader.

You may or may not have noticed but that goes for many posters on here, in fact more so in some cases.

Amazing this only becomes and issue now, never before. Can't remember you clamoring for fair press previously.