Bangkok – Thailand Foreign Minister, Don Pramudwinai, said the introduction of new visa restrictions on journalists in Thailand has became necessary to avoid untrue reporting.
The minister said on Tuesday in Bangkok that some media professionals had damaged the reputation of the country, through unethical reporting.
Pramudwinai said under the new visa guidelines, press visas would in future be issued only to full-time correspondents of competent agencies, effectively barring freelance journalists.
The minister said there are currently around 500 foreign journalists registered in Thailand.
Pramudwinai said the changes constituted no new restriction.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“We are not restricting the rights of foreign journalists, far from it. “Thailand has the freest press of any Asian nation.
“We have just been slow on enforcing regulations and need to be more orderly,’’ he said.
Since coming into power in May 2014, Thailand’s military government has repeatedly criticised media coverage of its rule.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has blasted the media for unfair coverage and not understanding the military’s decisions. (dpa/NAN)