PM gets gun-shy over press pictures

The government has distanced itself from controversial guidelines for photojournalists when snapping Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, saying a review has been ordered.

Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, a government spokesperson, said even Gen Prayut considered some of the rules to be excessive.

The general standards and ethical guidelines were issued by the Special Branch Police Division 1, which is responsible for security measures when photographers and journalists cover news related to the premier.

They were released ahead of the opening ceremony of the Thailand Social Expo Fair 2018 at Impact Muang Thong Thani in Bangkok, which Gen Prayut presided over.

The guidelines are essentially a set of do’s and dont’s for photographers covering events attended by the prime minister but they have sparked criticism from the public.

One states that photographers are required to make gestures of respect and maintain a distance of at least five metres from the prime minister.

But the guidelines fail to elaborate on what gesture is supposed to be used to “pay respect”.

Photojournalists must not scramble for position, bend overs or raise their cameras over other people’s heads to get their shot, the rules state. They must not leave their designated areas, cut lines, run or swarm their subjects.

Those who fail to observe the guidelines may have their press passes revoked and be banned from taking pictures at future events, officials said.

Lt Gen Sansern said the prime minister is aware the Special Branch want to enforce strict security measures in line with international standards.

He said several countries have adopted similar restrictions, with some banning photographers from getting too close to their nation’s leaders.

Nonetheless, some of the rules are “extreme” and could make people feel uncomfortable, the spokesperson said, conveying the opinions of the premier.

“Paying respect before and after taking a picture, for example. The prime minister said he wants the Special Branch to review this rule and only keep what is necessary to ensure security is maintained,” Lt Gen Sansern said.

“People normally pay respect to each other at public functions. But whether to maintain such gestures all the time, that is up to the individual,” he added.

“We’ll keep a set of ‘general standards’ but any rules that make people feel uneasy should be reviewed and possibly revoked,” Gen Prayut said, as relayed by the spokesman.

The guidelines were i ntroduced two days after the prime minister remarked that he would not talk to the press about politics in future unless it was unavoidable.

Security at the expo was extra tight yesterday. All media had to pass through a scanner, register and wear cards and stickers showing they had been screened.

Photographers were required to sign forms stating their names, employers’ names, and contact numbers. They were also asked to give their ID card numbers.

Gen Prayut has pulled some amusing stunts in the past. He once unveiled cardboard cut-outs of himself and told photographers to snap them instead.