Foreign correspondents based in Thailand being denied media visas

[webfact]

Foreign Correspondents Being Denied Media Visas
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer


Foreign correspondents are among a crowd of reporters interviewing former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Feb. 12 at her home in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — At least 10 foreign correspondents based in Thailand have been denied media visas during the past two months, said the former president of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand.

Jonathan Head, who has been tasked with monitoring and responding to issue, said all 10 were bona fide journalists and not fakes, making it difficult to understand the rationale for the Foreign Ministry’s decisions.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1457007442&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2016-03-04

[sunnyjim5]

Mr Heads biased and inaccurate BBC reports are probably part of the reason for the restrictions on unaffiliated (freelance) "journalists".

Any Journalist employed by a genuine, legal , news organization will not have a problem which explains Mr Heads continued presence in Thailand

[assayer]

I'm not familiar with Mr. Head's work. But, I do believe that the BBC is " a genuine, legal, news organization!"

[Jessi]

Its all about this.

[NongKhaiKid]

Is anyone surprised since foreign journalists tend to report issues as they are and not as the government wants and we know that criticism is one of the biggest No No's around.

[sunnyjim5]

I'm not familiar with Mr. Head's work. But, I do believe that the BBC is " a genuine, legal, news organization!"

Heads work is easily found.

I suggest you look up his reports about the "red shirt " takeover of Bangkok.

[NeverSure]

-snip- I do believe that the BBC is " a genuine, legal, news organization!"

I'm glad you didn't say "truthful" or "accurate".

Cheers.

[sunnyjim5]

-snip- I do believe that the BBC is " a genuine, legal, news organization!"

I'm glad you didn't say "truthful" or "accurate".

Cheers.

Sadly NeverSure your post reflects a painful truth.

The BBC, at one time, was an organisation who could be relied upon to offer honest,truthful and balanced reporting,

Then it was taken over by EU funded "lovies " who have destroyed the credibility of anything the BBC now offers.

[honoluludave]

Just trying to keep the outside world from knowing the truth. Can not control or trust those foreign journalist to write what we want. So we will just not let them in. We only want Happy Stories. Nothing bad

[NongKhaiKid]

Just trying to keep the outside world from knowing the truth. Can not control or trust those foreign journalist to write what we want. So we will just not let them in. We only want Happy Stories. Nothing bad

You've said it !

They think they'll have it all under control without having the sense to see they're handing the international media a nice headline and story.

[dbrenn]

-snip- I do believe that the BBC is " a genuine, legal, news organization!"

I'm glad you didn't say "truthful" or "accurate".

Cheers.

Sadly NeverSure your post reflects a painful truth.

The BBC, at one time, was an organisation who could be relied upon to offer honest,truthful and balanced reporting,

Then it was taken over by EU funded "lovies " who have destroyed the credibility of anything the BBC now offers.

Very true. The BBC is just a vassal of the loony UK left these days. All it does is bang on about global warming and how millions of migrants should be let in to the EU.

[Bobobirdiebuddy]

Since the Red Shirt demonstrations, the New York Times (Thomas Fuller in particular) and BBC (ever see Zeinab Badawi's interview with Abhisit?) have spouted the "Elites and Royalists vs Downtrodden Poor and their hero, Thaksin Shinawatra". Both were biased, as if they were written by the Red Shirts themselves.

That said, the foibles and errors of Prayut Chan-o-cha's term should be fair game. It's a shame the current regime is so thin skinned and reacts to every perceived slight with an iron fist.

Edited March 4, 2016 by Bobobirdiebuddy

[FritsSikkink]

Its all about this.

freespeech_630x420-620x400 (205 x 132).jpg

no, it is the same rule as for other professions.

no freelancers allowed.

[chainarong]

The current Junta has placed media bans on news items within Thailand, that have leaked out into mainstream international media , but the population doesn't know what is really happening , like the blackout that happened at all major police stations computers by hackers anonymous, we now have an administration that is directly intruding on all aspects of Thai life, that is not what the Junta want relayed to the international media , how ever there is social media , and we have seen a concentrated effort to curtail that as well, freedom certainly is another word in dear old LOS ..................................................

[SuwadeeS]

They had this in 1933 in Germany. "Heil Pr....."

[MZurf]

When did this turn into a discussion about the bias or non-bias of the BBC?? The point here is that the junta are slowly turning the screws on freedom of expression (as well as other freedoms) and it should be plain to see for all but the most right wing nutters that this is heading the wrong way.

[Enoon]

-snip- I do believe that the BBC is " a genuine, legal, news organization!"

I'm glad you didn't say "truthful" or "accurate".

Cheers.

Sadly NeverSure your post reflects a painful truth.

The BBC, at one time, was an organisation who could be relied upon to offer honest,truthful and balanced reporting,

Then it was taken over by EU funded "lovies " who have destroyed the credibility of anything the BBC now offers.

It is truly horrible when the "News" is not presented according to ones preferences isn't it?

Still that's what happens when your world is gone, your time is passed, and it's no longer "the good old days".

Never mind, watch some sport, or maybe read "your" newspaper, then you'll feel better.

Edited March 4, 2016 by Enoon

[JAG]

When did this turn into a discussion about the bias or non-bias of the BBC?? The point here is that the junta are slowly turning the screws on freedom of expression (as well as other freedoms) and it should be plain to see for all but the most right wing nutters that this is heading the wrong way.

Talking of whom...

I'm glad you didn't say "truthful" or "accurate".

Cheers.

Sadly NeverSure your post reflects a painful truth.

The BBC, at one time, was an organisation who could be relied upon to offer honest,truthful and balanced reporting,

Then it was taken over by EU funded "lovies " who have destroyed the credibility of anything the BBC now offers.

Very true. The BBC is just a vassal of the loony UK left these days. All it does is bang on about global warming and how millions of migrants should be let in to the EU.

Edited March 4, 2016 by JAG

[Srikcir]

Will it be just a matter of time, ie., less than a year, that all foreign correspondents will be purged from Thailand?

That might be ideal for the junta in preparation for the draft charter referendum and next elections. The junta might favor only good Thai reporters who love their country to properly and correctly (not to be confused with accurately) report on matters relating to the junta and security of the nation.

The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand may soon cease to exist.

[MZurf]

Will it be just a matter of time, ie., less than a year, that all foreign correspondents will be purged from Thailand?

That might be ideal for the junta in preparation for the draft charter referendum and next elections. The junta might favor only good Thai reporters who love their country to properly and correctly (not to be confused with accurately) report on matters relating to the junta and security of the nation.

The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand may soon cease to exist.

I don't think it will cease to exits but will soon be comprised of "journalists" from nations like Russia, Iran, North Korea, Belarus and China - Thailand's new best friends.

[DrTuner]

And this is the reason the visas say non-immigrant. Easy to kick the pesky farangs out.

[condo bought]

Can't have the truth being reported now, can we.

[johnno2]

• political cartoonist Stephff who works for the nation newspaper had his visa withdrawn also. So its not just forgeign correspondents.......http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1454405787&section=11&typecate=06

Edited March 4, 2016 by johnno2

[technologybytes]

When did this turn into a discussion about the bias or non-bias of the BBC?? The point here is that the junta are slowly turning the screws on freedom of expression (as well as other freedoms) and it should be plain to see for all but the most right wing nutters that this is heading the wrong way.

Because this whole story is based on something that was said by the man who works for the BBC, and has a history of bias and poor reporting.

[NCC1701A]

Banning foreign correspondents will not help them, they would have to control the internet... oh wait...

[MZurf]

When did this turn into a discussion about the bias or non-bias of the BBC?? The point here is that the junta are slowly turning the screws on freedom of expression (as well as other freedoms) and it should be plain to see for all but the most right wing nutters that this is heading the wrong way.

Because this whole story is based on something that was said by the man who works for the BBC, and has a history of bias and poor reporting.

So are you saying that he's lying, that 10 correspondents have not been denied visas??

[cumgranosalum]

Mr Heads biased and inaccurate BBC reports are probably part of the reason for the restrictions on unaffiliated (freelance) "journalists".

Any Journalist employed by a genuine, legal , news organization will not have a problem which explains Mr Heads continued presence in Thailand

They are /were all bona Fide journalists.

[Familyaffairs]

Mr Heads biased and inaccurate BBC reports are probably part of the reason for the restrictions on unaffiliated (freelance) "journalists".

Any Journalist employed by a genuine, legal , news organization will not have a problem which explains Mr Heads continued presence in Thailand

Yes !!!! Sheer bias, unresearched, biased nonsense, most unprofessional and more akin to Fox News' unfair and unbalanced propaganda channel.

[cumgranosalum]

It seems some posters approve of this measure, whilst others are determined to attack the messenger rather than the message.......both really reveal more about themselves than anything else.

Edited March 4, 2016 by cumgranosalum

[GeorgesAbitbol]

Amazing to see the topic changing from visa denied for foreign journalists to BBC and the red shirts!

The Junta doesn't want to have bad press so instead of trying to fix the problems they just mute the voices of foreign journalists.

This is one more proof that the Junta goes closer to the past Myanmar "government" actions.

Thailands was a hub of free press in south east Asia, it is now a red dot of shame on the map