Thai Prime Minister say’s he won't tolerate biased criticisms from irresponsible journalists

[Ricardo]

Perhaps the PM might try suing the naughty journos for a Billion Baht ?

Although that's not worth as much as it used to be, in the 'good old days', a decade ago !

[madmitch]

This is the same story regurgitated from another publication a couple of days ago. I recognise the quote about freedom of expression, which I commented upon.

[aRobotnamedWAR]

i use my real email here. so you can clearly see im not in thailand. His power is absolute and its making him crazy. hes surrounded by corrupt friend, corrupt enemies, greed slaves, they all want to sell thailand to china for family gain. and all I want is justice for the HRM, everyone is on very very icy grounds. and its so exciting.

[ggt]

What the man means is this: Any form of criticism is irresponsible journalism and will not be tolerated! Any questions?

[AlQaholic]

So instead of subsidizing the rice for farmers like Yingluk did to make'm happy, The present govt. have elected to just throw some money direct at the farmers to make them happy. In that way there can be no skeletons (i.e. unsold rice stored) in the closets, the money is gone, period...

[JOC]

Finally, I have seen the light!!

Thailand need to be ruled with an iron fist for the next couple of decades and freedom of speech is out of the question !!

The reason: Unsold stockpiles of rice..........................

[ttthailand]

Shouldn't he have a Press Secretary handle these matters and attend to other matters of the state ? Why is he even involved in these small matters ?

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Irresponsible journalists..... Riiiiiiiiiiiight. So how exactly can one define an irresponsible journalist, seems very subjective to me. So basically if anything goes against the official line then you run the risk of being hauled in by the men in green. Brilliant way to go if you want to achieve a so called peaceful utopia. Clown

No-one will be hauled away. They will be INVITED for talks. As it is merely an invitation, all they need do is say 'Thanks but no thanks' and I am sure that will be the end of the matter...

You forgot the brown envelope.

[tuanku]

Surely the biased and irresponsible journalists are the ones writing articles supporting the junta and disguising the truth to serve the interests of the corrupt elite - does he mean them?

[ttthailand]

I once supported this guy ..... I guess we all can make mistakes

[mrrizzla]

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will GET YOU ADJUSTED!

[Solomon]

I wonder if they'll come for this guy after democracy is restored and the army is back in the barracks?

[asdecas]

"Say's" in the headline? Oh dear, the errant apostrophe...

[MZurf]

Ok! Ok! So all the replies are accurate to some accord. But none are really thinking about what he could possibly be addressing. Everyone here knows there are some very biased reporters here. Just look at some of the news from The Nation prior to the coup. In regards to regulating what the public is told he is violating freedoms of speech. But in regards to the right wing hard core political activists who only print to make their parties look good and to spread lies and convince the ignorant their way is the only way then P would have a point in this comment. Some reporters have no ethics and don't care about reporting facts or the truth. Especially in Thailand.

"Ok! Ok! So all the replies are accurate to some accord. But none are really thinking about what he could possibly be addressing."

No, it's very clear what he's addressing. He doesn't like dissent - plain and simple. The tin-pot "PM" holds himself in high esteem, and despite government "polls" saying he has a mind blowing approval rating a lot of people don't like him.

For an insecure person this can be very hard to deal with.

[MZurf]

Obviously the journalist were not in the 99% of the people who are happy with the present government.

99.3. Don't forget the .3!!

[joebrown]

I wonder if they'll come for this guy after democracy is restored and the army is back in the barracks?

"after democracy is restored"... Are you talking about the type of democracy generally available in the free world, or the elite style democracy about to be thrust (at the point of rifle bayonet) down the throats of the Thai plebs?

[MorristheRunt]

If you cant stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

NO one asked you to take over this country and if you can't take critisism, I surgest you exit stage left, for the good of your country.

[PaulBraveheart]

I thought this was Thailand, seems more and more like North Korea. Where is the international community, so quiet, they must condone.

[baboon]

Perhaps the PM might try suing the naughty journos for a Billion Baht ?

Although that's not worth as much as it used to be, in the 'good old days', a decade ago !

An individual suing journalist(s) as a citizen is a far cry from a 'leader' using the power of the state to coerce the said journalist(s) into silence. Surely you can see that, or is it the case you simply don't want to? Edited December 30, 2015 by baboon

[dbrenn]

Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas.

--- Joseph Stalin

[iReason]

Fourteen Defining Characteristics Of Fascism

By Dr. Lawrence Britt
Source Free Inquiry.co
5-28-2003

Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread
domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

Edited December 30, 2015 by iReason

[sawadee1947]

already made clear to them the limits of free expressions and media’s responsibilities.

Freedom of speech? freedom of press? He acts really like a junta general. Statesman is different.

[Ricardo]

Perhaps the PM might try suing the naughty journos for a Billion Baht ?

Although that's not worth as much as it used to be, in the 'good old days', a decade ago !

An individual suing journalist(s) as a citizen is a far cry from a 'leader' using the power of the state to coerce the said journalist(s) into silence. Surely you can see that, or is it the case you simply don't want to?

No, I thought it was wrong then, and I still think it's wrong now.

Any PM has to expect criticism, and should be able to accept it, or shouldn't take the job.

But this is Thailand ...

[realenglish1]

"will no longer tolerate biased"

In the west its called OPINION and in a democracy its welcomed as part of the democratic system

You may have a opinion that may not agree with what I am doing or saying. So we agree to disagree.

He has thin skin

[Paul Henry]

Criticism by definition is bias.There is an old saying "You are better off sitting there looking like an idiot rather than opening your mouth and removing all doubt"

[oneday]

"...them the limits of free expressions and media’s responsibilities..."

Yeah, ya see Mr. P, that's the problem. Free expression is not supposed to have limits...well not the limits you place on it. Reasonable limits can be easily found in western countries such as not shouting "FIRE" in a crowded venue and so on. The limits you are placing go well beyond this.

[dbrenn]

It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.

--- Joseph Stalin

[Plutojames88]

I once supported this guy ..... I guess we all can make mistakes

It's admirable to confess an error of judgement .

Some people can't move forward and cling to original choices even when it's obvious later it was a poor choice.

The Thais of Bangkok in some quarters are regretting marching down the streets to oust the elected PM.

Business people who recall growth of 7% years ago under the hated Thaksin now offer basement bargain stock to survive , and also wish for the past.

People see freedoms not only vanishing but threat and fear replace them as well as outright lies and ridiculous propaganda about everything being fine.

As this guy starts in earnest the crack downs on what we read in Thai press .

His propaganda on the west will be stepped up.

That's when care and caution might be required .

I am already hearing reports of soldiers being intrusive into westerners attire and behaviour .

Careful it's a military government and no rules really apply its absolute .

And 2016 will just see things get worse

[HerbalEd]

"Prayut said the media should not accuse him of depriving them of free expressions as he had already made clear to them the limits of free expressions and media’s responsibilities." Says it all.

[dbrenn]

Where have all the junta supporters gone? There used to be so many of them here.