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