July 15, 1999
His Excellency Chuan Leekpai
Prime Minister
Government House
Bangkok, Thailand
Your Excellency,
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is concerned over a recent attempt to intimidate the staff of the Thai Post that was directed by an aide to Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwankhiri. We do, however, welcome Your Excellency’s pledge today to order an inquiry into the incident.
On July 13, in the late evening, Trairong’s private secretary led seven armed men into the offices of the Thai Post, a Thai-language daily newspaper, and demanded to see the reporter who had written an article about Trairong’s visit to a fishing village in southern Thailand. The article, published in the newspaper’s July 12 edition, stated that Trairong had been too afraid to meet with protesting fishermen during his trip.
Trairong’s secretary, Chalie Noppawong na Ayuthaya, complained that the story was untrue and had tarnished Trairong’s reputation. Backed by his armed companions, Chalie asked that the newspaper issue a correction to the report. According to an Associated Press interview with Thai Post editor Kannikar Viriyakul, Chalie then threatened that “he would come back, but in a different manner” if the newspaper published another unflattering story about his boss. The group occupied the newspaper’s offices for about an hour, but left without injuring staff members or damaging any property.
As an organization of journalists dedicated to the defense of our colleagues around the world, CPJ joins the Thai Post and the Bangkok-based Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) in protesting this act of intimidation directed against the press. We are encouraged by Your Excellency’s prompt response to the news today, which included a statement that you “have ordered a probe into the paper’s report and . . . [are] seeking a written explanation from Deputy Prime Minister Trairong.”
CPJ respectfully urges Your Excellency to make public the results of these inquiries as soon as possible. Such actions will further Thailand’s reputation as a regional leader in promoting press freedom, and as one of the most open societies in Asia.
Sincerely,
Ann K. Cooper
Executive Director
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His Excellency Chuan Leekpai
Prime Minister
Government House
Bangkok, Thailand