Strip journalist: Politician makes bad situation worse

27 กรกฎาคม 2559

Dr. Premsak Piayura may lose job after locking journalist in office & forcing him to strip to his underpants, then taking photos, all as punishment for photos of him with 16-17 year-old girl.

JOURNALISM & IMPUNITY IN POLITICS

Strip journalist: Poltiician makes bad situation worse

26/07/2016
Online Reporters

Dr. Premsak Piayura was already in hot water under the media spotlight, then he jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Photos of the career politician and a young girl with 400,000 baht in front of them, in what looked very much like a traditional Thai engagement ceremony had set the public imagination on fire.

The photos were taken by a Daily News reporter named Mr. Korsit.

The photos quickly went viral as it was circulated online and was featured on the front page of the Daily News, getting nationwide attention.

According to the news story, the girl is a Mathayom 5 student, indicating she is only 16-17 years old.

Ban Phai mayor Premsak Piayura is under investigation after allegedly ordering his staff to detain and strip a reporter down to his underwear and take photos of him because he was displeased with a news story he had written. In the photo,the 51-year-old politician gives a wai to people after emerging from his office on Wednesday. He refused a press interview. (Photo by Jakkrapan)

OUT OF THE FRYING PAN, INTO THE FIRE

In hot water over the photos, Dr. Premsak was apparently very angry.

Then Dr. Premsak called Daily News reporters to an urgent news conference at his office.

He then locked them all in his office and confiscated their equipment.

POLITICIAN STRIPS JOURNALIST OF HIS CLOTHES TO HUMILIATE HIM

Then Dr. Premsake ordered local government officials to take off (strip) the reporter's clothes, leaving the journalist standing in the politician's office nearly naked in his underwear.

To add insult to injury (throw salt in the wound), Dr. Premsak then had the journalist's photo taken without his clothes on.

Then Dr. Premsak graciously allowed the journalist to put his clothes back on five minutes later.

Khon Kaen governor Kamthorn Thavornsathit, (left) talks with a reporter on Wednesday before ordering an investigation into allegations against Ban Phai district municipality mayor Premsak Piayura. (Photo by Jakkrapan Nathanri)

COMPLAINT FILED WITH POLICE

In most countries, this would be against the law. It remains to be seen what action will be taken against this career politician and influential figure, who apparently believes he is above the law and the media.

Will impunity rule or justice be served this time?

The assaulted reporter will file a legal complaint at Ban Phai police station on Wednesday, the Daily News reported.

The governor of Khon Kaen has also ordered an investigation (see photo above).

THAI JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION DEFENDS REPORTER

The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) has condemned Premsak Piayura after he forced a reporter to take off his clothes.

The TJA came out later on Tuesday to protect the Daily News reporter, saying the act against Mr Korsit was unreasonable and a threat to the media.

The TJA "condemned Dr Premsak...for what happened," it said in a statement. It also urged his morality be probed and called for legal action against him.

AWARD IN QUESTION

In national politics, Dr Premsak ran under the banner of the Chart Thai (later Chartthaipattana) Party.

Dr Premsak was to receive an award from the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Aug 11 for helping needy people living in his town.

But NLA vice-president Peerasak Porjit said the NLA would reconsider his eligibilty if an investigation found he had acted inappropriately.

Dr Premsak was a veteran politician in Khon Kaen.

He started his national political career with the New Aspiration Party before moving to Thai Rak Thai.

He later resigned from Thai Rak Thai to join Chart Thai and later Bhumjaithai.

He entered monkhood for a year in 2006.

The 51-year-old was married to Orathai, a lecturer at Khon Kaen University.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1045105/tja-condemns-premsak-for-stripping-reporter