SOUTHERN VIOLENCE / ROYAL VISIT, WOMEN RANGERS IN TRAINING

Post urged to rethink action against staff

Two media organisations yesterday issued statements calling on the Bangkok Post to review its disciplinary action against two senior journalists over its controversial stories about cracks in a runway at Suvarnabhumi airport. Following two reports on the runway cracks in August 2005 _ which were then denied by airport authorities and government officials _ the Bangkok Post sacked chief reporter Sermsuk Kasitipradit and required the resignation of news editor Chadin Tephaval.

The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) yesterday issued a statement demanding that the management of Post Publishing Plc, the Bangkok Post publisher, review its decision after authorities recently confirmed that several cracks were found on the runways and taxiways at the airport.

''The association considers the two former senior journalists at the Bangkok Post had professionally carried out their journalistic duty [in reporting the story]. The association wants to express admiration and support for the two journalists who reported the news stories for the public interest,'' said the TJA statement.

The Press Council of Thailand, in its own statement, supported the TJA's call for the Bangkok Post to review its disciplinary action against the two, reasoning that the newspaper's runway cracks stories in August 2005 were factual reports.

Pichai Chuensuksawadi, editor-in-chief of Post Publishing, declined to comment on the statements yesterday.

The management of Post Publishing on Tuesday issued a statement defending its decision, saying it was a problem involving professional journalism standards.

Bangkok Post
Friday February 02, 2007