Time to 'FEER' get Thailand spat<\/p>\n
The Nation, Asia News Network, Bangkok<\/p>\n
The controversy over the Far Eastern Economic Review has
\nreached a virtual impasse. The Review on Monday sent a letter to
\nthe Speaker of the House of Representatives to express its regret
\nover the controversy caused by the article in its Jan. 10
\nedition. But while the letter apparently falls short of an
\nunconditional \"apology\", the Thai government should accept it and
\nlay the matter to rest. For it will not do anybody any good if
\nthe Review vs Thaksin case is allowed to drag on.<\/p>\n
There are far more important matters that the government
\nshould be focusing its effort and energy on than contretemps with
\nthe magazine. Besides, it will hurt the government and the image
\nof Thailand more if this issue is not settled quickly.<\/p>\n
The Review, in a tactical maneuver, apologized to the people
\nin its letter. Addressing it to Uthai Pimchaichon, the Speaker of
\nthe House of Representatives, the magazine expressed its regret
\nto the Thai people as a whole. It still insisted on the accuracy
\nof its brief article, published in the Intelligence column, in
\nwhich one palace source suggested tension between Prime Minister
\nThaksin Shinawatra and the Royal Palace.<\/p>\n
Reading between the lines, the Review is practically saying:
\n\"We are sorry if our article breaks local tradition regarding the
\nmonarchy, and we appreciate that such a report could have
\nunfavorable consequences.\" Two things are obvious: the magazine
\nis not apologizing to the Thaksin government, and it is not
\nchanging its stance regarding the administration's charge that
\nthe report was a lie.<\/p>\n
For such a prestigious international magazine, this may be as
\ngood as it can, or will, do. The government should let the issue
\nlie or proceed through legal channels. The Review correspondents,
\nShawn Crispin and Rodney Tasker, as well as publisher Philip
\nRevzin and editor Michael Vatikiotis, have been threatened with
\nan immigration blacklist on vague charges of undermining national
\nsecurity, certainly not a wise way to cope with this kind of
\nsituation.<\/p>\n
The episode should give the Review a tough lesson in how to
\nhandle coverage of sensitive affairs which need to be
\nindependently confirmed. In such a weighty affair as the
\nrelationship between the highest institution in the land and the
\ngovernment, the treatment of hearsay as fact simply fell far
\nshort of the universally accepted journalistic standard.<\/p>\n
As for the government, it is not wise either to pursue a
\ncourse of litigation or threats of visa revocation. There are
\nalways channels of communication that both sides can work on to
\ncreate a better understanding. If there are any policies it
\nthinks the public might not have a good understanding of, the
\ngovernment should make an extra effort to keep people informed
\nthrough local and foreign media alike.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, the problem with The Economist has been brought
\nunder control quite rapidly. The Economist has agreed to refrain
\nfrom distributing in Thailand its latest edition, in which it
\ncomments on the role of the monarchy. If that is the case, then
\nit is not going to violate any Thai laws.<\/p>\n
All in all, the government should not wage war against or
\nappear to be vengeful against the media, foreign or domestic. The
\nworld is looking at us closely. Thailand needs to be a more
\nmature country, capable of taking criticism and also increasing
\nthe depth, breadth and quality of its own public debates.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/time-to-feer-get-thailand-spat-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}