Thai media urged not to stir up conflicts

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Media urged not to stir up conflicts



BANGKOK:-- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha today urged the media not to stir up conflicts in the country to the extent that foreign investors and visitors are scared away.

He admitted that he sometimes lost his temper with the media because he felt some media had whipped up conflicts to the point that it has caused widespread panic and scared away potential foreign investors.

He pointed out even though there were conflicts in Thailand’s neighbouring countries, their media were more restrained and did not stir up the conflicts as was the case in Thailand.

The prime minister said Thailand badly needs foreign investments and he was concerned with the misunderstanding toward the situation in Thailand among foreigners and foreign investors as a result of the media’s sensationalization of domestic conflicts.

He said that development of the country to improve the livelihood of the people and to bring about prosperity would not be possible unless the country is stable and the media, he added, has a crucial role to play to enhance stability by not stirring up conflicts.

Regarding the need to conduct EIA and EHIA related to mega projects, the prime minister indicated that the process should be cut short in order to speed up the implementation of the projects.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/media-urged-not-to-stir-up-conflicts

-- Thai PBS 2015-11-07

[Jessi]

Foreign investors can see what is going on in Thailand, they dont need the media to tell them.

[NongKhaiKid]

And your words, actions and policies won't make people think twice ?

[BuckBee]

yep needs take his own advise as his mouth is more loose than a drunk bar-girl, his remarks such as 'closing the country' didn't do investment & trading any good ...

[waldroj]

The pot calling the kettle black!

Imagine what this guy would get up to without some media checks and balances.

The height of hypocrisy!

[z42]

This guy displays a frightening level of stupidity. And to think he actually believes foreign investors are swayed by what Thai language media churns out. Tragic

[Squeegee]

"...he was concerned with the misunderstanding toward the situation in Thailand among foreigners and foreign investors as a result of the media’s sensationalization of domestic conflicts."

Another day, another bare-faced lie from a junta bully.

[WhizBang]

In other words... report only 'good' news.

Dear Mr. PM, investors do not rely on Thai media to make investment decisions. They have other, and much better, sources.

[alant]

Dear foreigner,

Do not believe anything the press says. Everyone is happy. We will soon be totally crime free as alcohol is the only reason for crime and it is being banned step by step. You can maybe invest and get a minority share in a business then if you are lucky we may let you work and rent a house here. Sorry you can't buy one. Please don't bring tourist groups and show then round yourself as you do not know how to explain the wonderful features they can see. That is best done buy a guide that can not speak their language but knows all of the good souvenir shops.

Only joking it is weekend.

[Calimotty]

The Slide

[cmsally]

Foreign investors read foreign media, not really hard to figure out, surely.

[MZurf]

Media urged not to stir up conflicts

BANGKOK:-- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha today urged the media not to stir up conflicts in the country to the extent that foreign investors and visitors are scared away.

He admitted that he sometimes lost his temper with the media because he felt some media had whipped up conflicts to the point that it has caused widespread panic and scared away potential foreign investors.

He pointed out even though there were conflicts in Thailand’s neighbouring countries, their media were more restrained and did not stir up the conflicts as was the case in Thailand.

The prime minister said Thailand badly needs foreign investments and he was concerned with the misunderstanding toward the situation in Thailand among foreigners and foreign investors as a result of the media’s sensationalization of domestic conflicts.

He said that development of the country to improve the livelihood of the people and to bring about prosperity would not be possible unless the country is stable and the media, he added, has a crucial role to play to enhance stability by not stirring up conflicts.

Regarding the need to conduct EIA and EHIA related to mega projects, the prime minister indicated that the process should be cut short in order to speed up the implementation of the projects.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/media-urged-not-to-stir-up-conflicts

-- Thai PBS 2015-11-07

" Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha today urged the media not to stir up conflicts in the country to the extent that foreign investors and visitors are scared away."

You really don't need the media's help in this as you're doing an excellent job on you're own!

"He pointed out even though there were conflicts in Thailand’s neighbouring countries, their media were more restrained and did not stir up the conflicts as was the case in Thailand."

Restrained? Something must have been lost in translation because surely he meant stifled.

[oneday]

Don't stir up conflict...means support us 100%, do not contradict the junta and do not write any articles favorable to the red-shirts.

Censorship plain and simple.

[Emster23]

"He pointed out even though there were conflicts in Thailand’s neighbouring countries, their media were more restrained and did not stir up the conflicts as was the case in Thailand."

I assume he is referring to Burma, where Rohingya are referred to as "East Bengalis", although they have been in country for hundreds of years.... If genocide & concentration camps were happening in Thailand, would general want press to say "guests are enjoying time at government provided facilities demonstrating support of celebrating diversity"?

[Just1Voice]

Doesn't want the media to stir up conflicts by their reporting. Oh, you doing things like TELLING THE TRUTH???

[FangFerang]

All the junta cheerleaders are going to stay WAY clear of this article.

As always.

[chainarong]

The reason why the Thai media hasn't got a section 44 placed of their activities is that even Prayut - O can tell that it is useless to beat honest reporting of events when sitting next door is social media , that is the achilles' heal for the Chinese dictators and it also applies to Thailand , Prayut would like nothing better than to have just one media outlet the " Prayut - O Daily " Un - fortunately being a former General living in a fools paradise Prayut-O thinks the world rotates around one person , I rest my Case................................

[Lupatria]

It’s a pathetic display if a PM is obviously confused about who and what scares investors and visitors away.

[devaram]

He is a liar who thinks that if the lie is repeated enough times it will become a truth. This is the method of every tyrant. The conflict in this country is not as dangerous as the attempt to supress the conflict.

[GAZZPA]

And this is where this man falls down. He should be befriending the media, let them report freely on the issues but feed them information about what he is actually doing to move the country forward. His lack of understanding in this matter will not help, he should think before he speaks.

I as yet I have still seen nothing about reforms, not a thing. This is his main task and yet it seems to be going nowhere. So, if work is being done then publish some timelines and update people of the reform progress, that would be a good start.

So, again stop addressing trivial issues and stop bashing the media, get on with the task in hand and let them report on progress rather then releasing statements like this.

[Lorn]

Foreign investors can see what is going on in Thailand, they dont need the media to tell them.

Yet the Laos economy has grown 7+ % every year for the last 15-20 years despite their being very little media freedom there. And western countries have given a lot of aid to it despite it's er lack of democracy. So much hypocrisy.

Edited November 7, 2015 by Lorn

[devaram]

In other dont speak the truth because our whole structure is built on lies and yes we know that our lies will send us to hell but at least we will enjoy our moment in the sun for a few days and besides foreigners are stupid anyway?

[Krataiboy]

It is no surprise to hear the current leadership bemoaning the fact that the Thai media is not (yet) as supine and malleable as that of more repressive regimes across the region.

However, a far more sinister proposal - to reduce the effectiveness of two vital processes which protect the nation and its people from rapacious commercial development - is dismissed in a single sentence thrown away at the end of the report.

It states: “Regarding the need to conduct EIA and EHIA related to mega projects, the prime minister indicated that the process should be cut short in order to speed up the implementation of the projects.”

In case there happens to be a reader other than myself who did not already know, the acronym EIA stands for Environmental Impact Assessment. On checking, I discovered this is a process by which decision-makers and public are informed in advance of the environmental consequences of implementing a proposed project.

EHIA, it turns out, is short for Environmental Health Impact Assessment, a method of predicting the negative and positive impacts of a development proposal. It is described by its proponents as “a key component of informed decision-making”.

Any attack on two of the principal restraints on unfettered and damaging development is arguably much more newsworthy than yet another government gripe about the Press failing to sing from its official song sheet.

With a number of mega project's already in the pipeline and more planned, the negative consequences of streamlining EIA and EHIA could clearly have wide-ranging effects on the Kingdom and potentially millions of people.

Yet the reader of this news item, provided by an outfit which boasts of being "The Broadcaster You Can Trust" somehow neglects to even mention what the initials EIA and EHIA stand for and fails to elaborate on what might happen if the prime minister acts to in any way reduce the time taken to complete these complex but necessary procedures.

Why so coy?

Frankly, it is counter-productive for the Thai mass media constantly to bleat about new, perceived restrictions on its freedom when it so blatantly fails, as in this case, to exercise its right and duty to report and inform on matters of general concern. A public debate on this worrying new proposal needs to be opened - and the sooner the better.

[ukrules]

So I guess the message is something like this :

Come to Thailand and do your business here, we're going to be the 'digital hub' of Asia and we really need foreign investment.

Once you get here we will route all of your companies sensitive commercial communications through our digital hub and spy on you 24/7.

Oh, and we will make is as hard as possible for you and your extended family to stay here by introducing many useless immigration regulations just for giggles and forget the idea of your executives buying any property, that's just not on. Only a Thai person is so privileged as to be allowed to buy an overpriced badly built house on land which they can own themselves.

Once you've finished investing please leave and don't come back 'too many' times.

If your friends come to visit for more than a couple of months we will first audit their bank accounts....

[heybruce]

"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha today urged the media not to stir up conflicts in the country to the extent that foreign investors and visitors are scared away."

First, as has been pointed out, foreign investors get their information from uncensored foreign news sources, not the censored Thai press.

Second, foreign investors want to invest their money in countries with stable, transparent government. A military coup, rule by decree, the constitution suspended, the new constitution rejected, unstated reforms, and elections constantly being put-off do not make for a stable country. Censorship is the opposite of transparency, and the unexplained wealth of Prayut and other officials indicates that transparency is badly needed.

Under these circumstances the only significant foreign investment will come from countries like China, which which will invest in order to control the country.

[Just1Voice]

Hey, General, er...PM, you want to know what's really scaring foreign investment away? Go look in the mirror!

[Lupatria]

And this is where this man falls down. He should be befriending the media, let them report freely on the issues but feed them information about what he is actually doing to move the country forward. His lack of understanding in this matter will not help, he should think before he speaks.

I as yet I have still seen nothing about reforms, not a thing. This is his main task and yet it seems to be going nowhere. So, if work is being done then publish some timelines and update people of the reform progress, that would be a good start.

So, again stop addressing trivial issues and stop bashing the media, get on with the task in hand and let them report on progress rather then releasing statements like this.

...but feed them information about what he is actually doing to move the country forward.

To achieve this, the first thing he has to do is replace the entire staff of the press department of the PM's office with real journalists, people with skills, knowledge, and dedication to their job. But this,- as many other things in this country- will not happen because they were all handpicked by the guys at the top for unknown (imaginable) reasons.

Edited November 7, 2015 by Lupatria

[Siammodels]

Urged not to state the truth