Thread: Media group inconclusive over Kanok's surprise visit by Red Shirts

Media group inconclusive over Kanok's surprise visit by reds - The Nation

Media group inconclusive over Kanok's surprise visit by reds

The Nation March 9, 2012 1:00 am


The Thai Broadcast Journalists Association yesterday said it would need further information before concluding whether a television host was threatened by the red shirts when they "called on" him at his workplace last Friday night.

Jiraparn Srinien, host of a programme on the red shirts' satellite-based Asia Update television, and about 20 other red shirts went to Modernine TV head office and handed their protest letter to Kanok Ratwongsakul, co-host of the Khao Khon Kon Khao current-news programme on Modernine TV. Jiraparn said Kanok failed to perform his job in a neutral manner.

Visut Komwatcharapong, the association's president, said yesterday that it would find out some important information - such as whether the red shirts made an appointment and whether the talk between Jiraparn and Kanok was amicable - before the association could conclude whether the incident was an act of threat.

"This matter is still inconclusive. We will look at the details and will talk to Kanok and his employers," Visut said, adding that the association's committee members discussed widely about the matter.

Kanok also works for Nation Broadcasting Corporation, which runs the satellite-based Nation Channel and co-produces the prime-time Modernine programme.

Jiraparn, who is better known among his fans as "Jor Jet", yesterday denied that his group had entered Modernine office compound without permission or appointment. He said his group just wanted to warn Kanok that many red shirts were dissatisfied with his alleged lack of neutrality and that he could end up becoming a victim of assault, in the same way academic Worachet Pakeerut did recently. He was referring to an attack on the leader of Nitirat group of law lecturers.