PM Prayut urges media to help solve internal conflicts

[webfact]

PM urges media to help solve internal conflicts



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha wants the media to exercise caution in their news presentation in a way which may cause conflicts or in the presentation of news from certain self-serving groups of in a way which is not beneficial to the society, said government spokesman Maj-Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd on Wednesday.

The prime minister, he said, has trust in media organizations that they are a key to curing the ills of the country through their presentation of facts and news which are useful to the society or improve better understanding of the country.

Maj-Gen Sansern further said the prime minister wanted the country to free itself from the vicious circle of fabricated news, rumours, senseless news and news which tend to cause conflicts.

The prime minister has warned certain Pheu Thai party members who were reported to have incited people to resist against the way the government is handling the cases related to the rice pledging scheme.

Regarding the Pheu Thai members’ rhetorics against the government’s handling of the rice pledging scheme probe, Maj-Gen Sansern insisted that only the officials who honestly do their job concerning with the rice stockpiles and rice releases from the storage would be protected by immunity from criminal and civil lawsuits.

The cases against former Pheu Thai ministers in their handling of the rice scheme will be tried in the normal court of law.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-urges-media-to-help-solve-internal-conflicts

-- Thai PBS 2015-11-05

[NongKhaiKid]

Exercise caution in news presentation ?

Is that a hint to only report positive items about the govt and anything negative is a No No ?

What about accuracy, honesty etc ? I suppose the truth is inconvenient.

[Reigntax]

No PM, you ve lost the plot again. The media advise the population what is going on, good, bad and otherwise and as yet there it nothing to report that you can be proud of. So why dont you try a bit harder or just be a bit smarter.

Otherwise stand down, about face, tail between your legs and admit you're a failure.

[arthurboy]

Rather than Prayuth's constant whinging, he should close the whole lot down, and let the junta handle the business of media.

He could also hand out masking tape to the entire population, while he's at it, so we can stick some over our mouths.

[Wilsonandson]

Exercise caution in news presentation ?

Is that a hint to only report positive items about the govt and anything negative is a No No ?

What about accuracy, honesty etc ? I suppose the truth is inconvenient.

If it stops newspapers printing the rants of Thaksin and his son then fair play. As for government issues, I agree, negative news should be allowed as well as positive.

[Emster23]

There is so little news that gets out due to defamation laws etc, and now, in his demo of total lack of understanding of press in a free society... oops, never mind, forgot not free society. Ok, be a propaganda wing of the Junta and limit independent reports to flower shows.

[yellowboat]

Would love to see this man live in a place where he has no privileges. He could not survive. He is just too ethnocentric.

[Jimbo2014]

Dang free press - getting in the way of a perfectly good dictatorship

[Hawk]

Every country has internal conflicts, there is no such place as utopia.

[thelonius]

Maj-Gen Sansern further said the prime minister wanted the country to free itself from the vicious circle of fabricated news, rumours, senseless news and news which tend to cause conflicts.

This being reported by Thai PBS News, must be the greatest of all ironies.................

Regarding the Pheu Thai members’ rhetorics against the government’s handling of the rice pledging scheme probe, Maj-Gen Sansern insisted that only the officials who honestly do their job concerning with the rice stockpiles and rice releases from the storage would be protected by immunity from criminal and civil lawsuits.

If they were doing their job honestly they would not need to be protected by immunity from criminal and civil lawsuits.

..................and on the related subjects of fabricated news and the governments handling of the rice scheme probe how does this statement by Prayuth in October 2014, stand up in the light of day - strangely enough a statement that was first published by that paragon of virtue, Thai PBS News, and picked up by Thai Visa Forum?

PM: Only 10 percent of 18 million tonnes of rice in stockpiles are good

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772234-pm-prayut-only-10-percent-of-18-million-tonnes-of-rice-in-stockpiles-are-good/

Yet, in July 2015,

In the first eight rounds conducted by the current government, 3.88 million tonnes worth Bt40.94 billion were sold out of inventory.

The government still holds about 14.3 million tonnes of rice, of which 4.6 million tonnes are rotten and will soon be offered for industrial use.

About 8 million tonnes have already passed standard testing and could be sold for domestic consumption and export.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/10m-tonnes-seen-in-Thai-rice-sales-overseas-this-y-30263944.html

That’s around 32% of stockpiled rice that is rotten, which while still an unacceptably large figure, is far from Prayuths inflated statement of 90%.

One could think that he wanted to influence the publics' perception of the previous government. Talk about fabricated news........................

[Laughing Gravy]

Every country has internal conflicts, there is no such place as utopia.

Totally agree. It is how you handle, cope and deal with the good and bad publicity. It is what you are judged on in politics. You can't expect only positive, non threatening comments coming your way in politics. Unless you are a dship.

Only people with nothing to hide, poor politicians and those who can't debate would come up with suggestions to limit speech from all sections of society.

[phoenixdoglover]

Dear Mr. PM,

You've got the National News Bureau of Thailand, which will print any official statement, without critical comment or analysis, no matter how vacuous or nonsensical.

What more do you want?

Love, PDL

[medina21]

His comments encapsulate what's wrong with Thailand. This country has much to offer. Sadly, the imposition of 'correct thinking' damages the country from realizing its potential. Thailand is really struggling to shake off it's top-down, feudal structure. If you don't have a free press you don't have a free country. A free press exposes the incompetence and corruption of those with power. When the media becomes an extension of the government, the people lose their voice. Of course, the media in the UK, the US, and elsewhere exhibit bias but they do serve to keep the political class in check.

[arrowsdawdle]

Ocho is the new editor in chief of all media, und you vill like it.

[Broeno]

Sacha Baron Cohen. You can come in. This country is ready for it.

[oneday]

PM urges media to help solve internal conflicts...by regurgitating everything we say verbatim.

[cockatoowho]

Are we asking this time PM or are we still ordering General?

[heybruce]

His comments encapsulate what's wrong with Thailand. This country has much to offer. Sadly, the imposition of 'correct thinking' damages the country from realizing its potential. Thailand is really struggling to shake off it's top-down, feudal structure. If you don't have a free press you don't have a free country. A free press exposes the incompetence and corruption of those with power. When the media becomes an extension of the government, the people lose their voice. Of course, the media in the UK, the US, and elsewhere exhibit bias but they do serve to keep the political class in check.

"A free press exposes the incompetence and corruption of those with power."

Well, no wonder Prayut is opposed to it. I'm sure his opposition to freedom of the press has a great deal of support among the "quality people" in Thai society.

[FangFerang]

The mind boggles, the heart aches, the hands bleed......

While Suthep wipes his bottom with each of the previous constitutions in turn, then hands the paper to the Mystery Man so he can print on the obverse and send missives to the media.