(SEAPA/IFEX) – A local correspondent of the Associated Press (AP) was escorted out of a press conference with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on 27 February 2006 after he raised a question relating to the current political situation in Thailand. News reports said Sutin Wannaborworn was escorted out of a meeting room at the Parliament building […]
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A local correspondent of the Associated Press (AP) was escorted out of a press conference with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on 27 February 2006 after he raised a question relating to the current political situation in Thailand.
News reports said Sutin Wannaborworn was escorted out of a meeting room at the Parliament building by security guards on orders of Thaksin aide Padung Limcharoen. The reporter later tried to re-enter the room but was blocked by the guards.
Prior to that, the reports said, Padung switched off the microphone in front of Sutin when the latter posed a question to the prime minister: “Is this gathering meant to be real or a farce, given the current political crisis?”
The 58-year-old journalist was referring to an earlier meeting during which the beleaguered prime minister signed a social contract of political reform with politicians from 16 little-known parties, while leaders of the three major opposition parties where nowhere in sight.
“Whatever my question was, they had no right to evict me to prevent me from asking questions or covering the press conference. It is a violation of press freedom,” said Sutin, who has been covering Thai politics for various foreign news agencies for many years.
Thaksin, facing his biggest challenge since he came to power in 2001, has never been comfortable with the press, whom he regards as being too critical and unfair to him.
