Media watchdog urges end to tactics seen as press intimidation by PM's team

The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) has expressed concern over the prime minister’s communications team recording and publishing images of members of the media while they were interviewing Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

The TJA said that the incident could negatively impact press freedom and induce a reluctance to ask questions in government-controlled areas.

The incident took place on June 6, following a National Security Council meeting in the Kap Choeng district of Surin province, according to the statement issued today.

It is reported that the PM's teams photographed a journalist who was questioning Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra about the government’s approach to resolving Thai-Cambodian border tensions.

The images were later posted on social media, accompanied by negative remarks referring to the journalist’s line of questioning, which sparked widespread criticism.

The TJA noted that this occurred just days after reports that the prime minister had shown dissatisfaction with similar questions from the press at Government House. This, it said, raises concerns about the safety and independence of journalists covering government affairs.

In the statement, the association said that the targeted recording and publishing of images of specific journalists, who question the prime minister, could be perceived as pressure or intimidation, undermining the freedom to ask questions and report, both core principles of journalism in a democratic society.

Such behaviour, the association added, could foster a climate of fear, especially when journalists address sensitive issues of public interest, and the TJA urged the government’s communications team to refrain from actions that could be interpreted as harassment.

It also called on the government to promote press freedom and ensure a safe and independent environment for journalists to perform their duties, calling on all parties to respect press freedom and support high-quality, independent journalism.

On June 4, the prime minister appeared displeased with a female reporter’s questions about Cambodian soldiers allegedly encroaching more than 200 meters into Thai territory. After an exchange of words with the reporter, the Paetongtarn remarked,

“The reporters are really fierce today,” to which the reporter retorted, “I’m not being fierce.”

Following the press briefing, Paetongtarn returned to the same reporter and sarcastically said, “Just came to ask if something was wrong. Where did you disappear to? Is she angry today? So, I came to see if she was okay.”

The video clips of the interview went viral, prompting mixed reactions to the remarks and her manner.

An informed source said that, on June 6, reporters covering Government House affairs noticed that they were being photographed and recorded while doing their job. Some asked who the female reporter was and which media outlet she represented.

Soon after, images of the reporters were posted on social media, alongside criticism of their manner of questioning, which drew negative comments from the prime minister’s supporters.

The source said that this led the TJA to issue the statement.