THAILAND: The big issue: A not-so-free press

The prime minister explained that reporters can be idjits, which is true, and the soon-to-be police chief said reporters are the reason he can’t catch the Yellow T-Shirt Guy, which is not. All in the game, as we shall see, but the most devastating blow in decades to freedom of the press in Thailand came from … the press. The prime minister not only spoke truth to the power of the press, it was perhaps to the power of the press, it was perhaps the strongest and most credible attack on the media since the days of the original Gen Sarit. That is because he backed it up by picking up one of his best known newspaper foes, throwing a hood over his head and driving him off somewhere for three days and two nights at charm school, aka attitude adjustment.

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