Thailand Politics
Thai Army Tell Foreign Press What they Want Reported
Thai Army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha (C) speaks next to Navy chief Narong Pipatanasai (L) and Air Chief Marshal Prajin Jantong (R) during a press conference at the Army Club in Bangkok
BANGKOK – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned members of foreign media for a meeting to reaffirm the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s stance on news reporting under the martial law.
Ministry Spokesman Sek Wannamethee said Army representatives will lead the meeting aimed at clarifying the NCPO’s mission. The NCPO insisted that the coup has been declared to restore peace and order and to ensure a democratic future for Thailand.
Mr. Sek said the NCPO has no policy to suspend social media services and the agency expects foreign press members to report the story as accurately as possible.
The spokesperson also commented on the United States Department of State’s upcoming Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report on Thailand, saying that it is unlikely that the US will link the current political situation to the issue of human trafficking. The TIP report will be released on June 1st and it had been expected that Thailand will receive a ranking downgrade to tier 3 due to political instability.
The US has so far cancelled ongoing military exercises with Thailand and an upcoming visit by a top Navy official as a result of the coup.
