Thaksin stripped of red passport : CNS warns TV, radio against divisive reports

Thaksin stripped of red passport : CNS warns TV, radio against divisive reports.

BHANRAVEE TANSUBHAPOL & WASSANA NANUAM

The government and the Council for National Security (CNS) have tightened their grip on Thaksin Shinawatra by revoking the deposed prime minister's diplomatic passport, and advising the broadcast media to stop reporting any messages deemed unfavourable to national unity.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sawanit Kongsiri told the National Legislation Assembly in a closed-door meeting yesterday that the red-covered passport given to Mr Thaksin and his wife, Khunying Potjaman, have been cancelled.

Mr Sawanit was responding to NLA member Nitipum Nawaratana's inquiry about the couple's diplomatic passports.

According to a source, Mr Sawanit said the revocation on Dec 31 was prompted by Mr Thaksin's alleged attempt to get involved in political movements in the wake of New Year bombings in Bangkok and neighbouring Nonthaburi.

Mr Thaksin sent an open letter by facsimile attacking the government and the CNS after the blasts, Mr Sawanit was quoted as saying.

Mr Sawanit said the ministry would do everything it could under the law to curb movements deemed as destabilising the government.

He said the ministry also ordered all Thai embassies and consulates around the world to stop receiving the couple, who still have ordinary passports.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Kiattikhun Chartprasert said the ministry told the couple on Tuesday that their diplomatic passports had been revoked, via the Thai consul-general in Hong Kong and Thai embassy in London. Mr Thaksin is now in Hong Kong and his wife is in England.

The ministry revoked the diplomatic passports held by Mr Thaksin's son and daughters on Nov 16 last year.

A ministry source said Mr Thaksin and his wife would have two weeks before the revocation takes effect.

The source said the ministry also found Mr Thaksin had published 150,000 copies of a book on his life, in Chinese for distribution in China but the government could do nothing about it because it was within Mr Thaksin's rights to do so.

At army headquarters, CNS generals led by assistant army chief Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr and defence permanent secretary Gen Winai Phattiyakul called in 50 broadcast media executives for a briefing.

A source said Gen Winai told state-owned broadcasters they could exercise their own judgement and remove any offending programmes.

CNS spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the former leader was using the media to stir up confusion and undermine the government and the CNS.

Mr Thaksin had issued statements through his lawyer Noppadon Pattama to defend himself. "Some media read out those statements, morning, noon and night. Some also offered an analysis, which the CNS finds inappropriate.

"The CNS stepped in to end social discord, but how can it achieve that when the former leader and ruling party come out to provoke supporters through the media?" Col Sansern said.

Mr Thaksin could always turn to the courts and the National Counter Corruption Commission if he wished to clarify allegations against him.

Col Sansern said the CNS was merely asking for cooperation, but if some people still failed to exercise proper judgement, the CNS would take action on a case by case basis.

"We listen to public opinion including the media, but it does not sound right to listen to the former government which brought us to this," he said.

The Thai Journalists Association and the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association will meet today to discuss the CNS's move.

Takoeng Somsap, chairman of the TBJA, said the CNS was intimidating the media rather than asking for cooperation.

"Personally, I think media outlets should rebel. We are willing to listen. Instead the CNS opts for a method which is more like intimidation," he said.

Nattaya Chetchotiros, acting president of the TJA, urged the coup-makers to handle the matter with care.

"Dealing with the media is a delicate matter. The CNS should promote a better understanding with information instead of giving powers to media executives to punish those who are uncooperative," she said.

Bangkok Post
Thursday January 11, 2007