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Thai politician Prawit Wongsuwan slapped a journalist on the top for asking him a query concerning the new prime minister, sparking outrage within the nation.
A proper parliamentary investigation has been sought in opposition to Mr Prawit, 79, who has a controversial historical past, together with alleged involvement in a navy coup.
A video of the interplay in Bangkok final week between Duangthip Yiamphop, a veteran reporter for the Thai Public Broadcasting Service, and Mr Prawit, a retired basic and former deputy prime minister, led to anger in Thailand.
Journalist associations condemned the politician’s act as intimidation and an assault on press freedom. “The current assault on a journalist is unacceptable and can’t be ignored,” Ittipan Buathong, president of the Thai Broadcast Journalists Affiliation, stated.
“It’s clear that what occurred wasn’t simply teasing. It was an outright assault.”
He alleged that Mr Prawit had acted inappropriately in direction of journalists earlier than. “This incident, if dismissed as trivial, dangers repeating previous eventualities the place interviews have belittled the media, questioning their academic background to undermine their skilled work.”
Ms Duangthip’s employer referred to as for Mr Prawit to be held accountable for violating the principles of moral conduct.
Mr Prawit, who heads the Palang Pracharath Social gathering, apologised, claiming he was teasing somebody he knew properly.
“As a result of he was a soldier the teasing might look like violent however these near him know that he teases like this on a regular basis,” Piya Tavichai, a spokesman for the social gathering, stated. “He was teasing her as somebody who he’s near.”
Final yr, Thailand’s military-appointed Senate rejected the end result of an election gained by a candidate who advocated for modifications to a regulation criminalising criticism of the monarchy, allegedly below Mr Prawit’s affect.
“Senior or influential figures really feel they will act with impunity in direction of youthful or much less highly effective folks,” Senator Tewarait Maneechai was quoted as saying by The New York Instances.
“Sadly, this has turn out to be a norm in Thai society.”
Mr Prawit, president of Thailand’s Nationwide Olympic Committee, was leaving a gathering with athletes coming back from the Paris Video games when Ms Duangthip requested him in Thai, “Have you ever watched the prime ministerial vote?”
“What did you ask? What sort of query is that?” Mr Prawit responded and proceeded to slap her on the top a number of occasions earlier than strolling away.
Mr Prawit is accused of taking part in a job in orchestrating the 2014 navy coup as Thailand’s prime basic, following his involvement within the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Final week, Thailand’s constitutional courtroom eliminated Srettha Thavisin as prime minister for appointing a convicted lawyer to his cupboard. Mr Srettha was changed on Sunday by Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
