Gen Chavalit's true colours
Source : Billy Roland, Bangkok Post (June 12)
In his recent comments that foreign journalists should not meddle in Thai-Burma issues which they don't understand, Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh once again shows his true colours. Rather than try to defend his pro-Burma stance born of his friendship with the SPDC's generals (and the economic opportunities that friendship offers to him and his cronies), Gen Chavalit tries to once again blame the foreigners for meddling where they don't belong.
How pathetic. His call for journalistic ethics is clearly, in his mind, a gag rule where he wants the foreign press to toe the line of the Thai press as in the past, that is, if someone in power says not to report on a sensitive subject, they don't.
If Gen Chavalit took the time to read the Thai Constitution of 1997, he would see clearly that freedom of expression and freedom of the media are explicitly guaranteed.
Retrogressive and repressive attitudes such as that which Gen Chavalit continually displays are out of step with Thailand's march toward fuller democracy with active citizen participation, as outlined in the constitution.
Gen Chavalit is clearly from a bygone age, and should seriously consider retiring and allowing more suitable, democratically-inclined politicians in New Aspiration party to step forward and take the reins of power.