Thailand's media asked to prevent renewed social divisiveness

BANGKOK, July 5 (TNA) - The army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has asked Thailand's media to be always responsible in their reports to help prevent any repeated social divisiveness, like the situation happening before a coup staged by the NCPO on May 22, 2014. Speaking during his weekly address on Friday (Jul 4) night, Thai Army and NCPO Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha acknowledged that Thailand remains in an “unusual” period and it is, therefore, necessary for the media to help in presenting news reports which will no longer cause social divisiveness, including reports which are not yet proven their accuracy. General Prayuth pointed out that in the past, the Thai society and the people were confused and hated each other before the NCPO took over the national administrative power on May 22, as each side believed in reports which they obtained. General Prayuth suggested that the NCPO, journalist associations, reporters, editors, owners of publishing houses and concerned authorities cooperate with each other, warning that posting articles considered inappropriate would only “condemn Thailand in the eyes of foreigners”, while also negatively affecting the country as social rifts will never cease. The NCPO chief urged those related to the media to, therefore, standardise and control contents, as well as present facts to the public, while insisting that the NCPO has no intention to curb freedom of the press. (TNA)