Thaksin denies harassment of media

Thaksin denies harassment of media

THAILAND: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra denied on Friday allegations that his government had harassed his critics amid mounting complaints from the media, academics and opposition figures.

Thaksin came under fire last week after Thailand's Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) tried to investigate the bank accounts of 33 journalists and executives of local media companies.

One of the companies targeted by the AMLO, The Nation Multimedia Group, won a court appeal on Wednesday to temporarily bar the AMLO investigation. The Nation earlier had its radio broadcasts pulled off the air by the government.

Many newspapers and critics have said that Thaksin ordered the AMLO probe to silence his critics.

"My government never ordered the AMLO to probe anyone," Thaksin told reporters. "I myself was once probed by the AMLO even after becoming prime minister." -- AP