Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday vented frustration at the media and threatened to take legal action against some of them for what he described as their unfair coverage.
“I think I have to do something (with the media). When you get attacked, you resort to defamation law. Governmental agencies have to protect their own dignity. If they did not do what the media alleged they did, then they have the right to defend themselves,” he said, but didn’t identify the media or give details about any specific issues.
Speaking while presiding over an award presentation for outstanding business operators, Gen Prayut also warned the media “to watch out”. “I am not threatening the media. Don’t try to portray this as a threat,” he said.
The prime minister said he would be happy without reading newspapers. “I am trying to sort out which newspapers to skip, newspapers that never have done anything good for the country,” he said, adding that he would ask the people to tell him which newspapers are most reliable.
But Gen Prayut insisted that he has never used his power against the media even though they have been attacking his administration indiscriminatingly.
