Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said today that all Thai media, print, TV and online, are entitled to accompany him to China’s Xinjiang region next week, to assess the well-being of Uyghurs repatriated from Bangkok.
He dismissed claims that he selected only pro-government media for the trip, calling them groundless. He admitted that the government wants the most influential online media outlets, as determined by ratings.
“I’m not responsible for choosing the journalists. I have already assigned the Government Spokesperson’s Office to coordinate with other agencies in selecting the media,” he said.
Phumtham is due to travel to Xinjiang on March 18 by military transport, at the invitation of the Chinese government, to inspect the condition of the 40 Uyghurs, who were controversially and secretly deported from Thailand in late February.
Thailand has been condemned by the international community and rights groups for forcibly deporting the group to China, where they are feared assault and prosecution.
Phumtham said the media outlets on the trip will primarily be those who cover news at Government House, as well as the Defence and Justice ministries.
People’s party spokesperson, Rangsiman Rome, has questioned the selection of journalists, claiming that only pro-government media have been chosen.
He also expressed doubts about the media’s freedom to meet with the Uyghurs and to ask them questions, adding “If the media must follow Phumtham’s schedule and have no freedom to do their jobs, the trip would be pointless.”
Phumtham responded that Rangsiman should direct his questions to the media, not him, adding that the military aircraft has about 20 seats, with approximately eight allocated for the media.
