When and When Not to Criticise the ‘Foreigners’

Thitinan Pongsudhirak opines in the Bangkok Post (emphasis added):

[T]he government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva clearly cares about how foreigners view Thailand and how foreign takes should be consistent and conform to official positions.

The government does not seem to detest the foreign media per se. It selectively prefers the foreign perceptions that toe the official worldview from Bangkok, support the status quo, and obey the mainstream narrative.

For example, the appointment of Ambassador Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Thailand’s permanent representative in Geneva, as president of the United Nations Human Rights Council, has been touted and portrayed as the acceptance and understanding by the international community of the Thai authorities’ handling of the domestic unrest and deadly violence in recent months.

Prior to this high-level international appointment, senior Thai officials have lambasted certain foreign governments for allowing convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra freedom of movement in their countries.

I suppose the government is not worried as much about the Thai media, given that Colonel Sansern seems to have been attracting much of their recent attention.

p.s. Read more about Sihasak’s appointment as the UNHRC president here.

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2. Thailand Chosen to Head UN Human Rights Council
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4. Wassana Nanuam Becomes Latest Victim of Thai Media Intimidation
5. Former Democrat Leader: “I Would Give This Government 5 out of 10.”