Unearth press case truth

It is extremely disappointing that one of the country’s top investigative journalists has resorted to using one of the country’s most repressive laws. He is the recent subject of a malicious whisper campaign alleging serious sexual harassment at the news agency, the best-known arm of the Isra Institute. And instead of letting the truth come out, he has resorted to the criminal defamation law.

Rumours of ethical misconduct have rocked the Thai media. Earlier, the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) published a statement that an executive of a media organisation had been accused of sexual harassment, leading to the resignation of an employee.

The TJA, however, released extremely vague details. The specific allegations and the identity of the accused news executive were kept from the public.

But a Facebook post by Scottish journalist Andrew MacGregor Marshall finally named the journalist and detailed some allegations. The notorious Scot is himself the target of government charges of lese majeste.

The accused has obtained legal help and has now sued Marshall for defamation over the Facebook post. In a possibly misguided attempt, the head of the Isra Institute, Vimolphan Peetathawatchai, claimed “all” Isra employees would help the accused to get through the difficult times. She hinted that he has been targeted by those who lost out as a result of the institute’s reporting.

He made his reporting name as a corruption buster and fearless investigative journalist, chiefly for a major Thai-language newspaper, where he rose to become editor-in-chief. Among his scoops, he uncovered the Bangkok Bank of Commerce and currency-trading cesspits a year before the 1997 baht collapse, and the Thaksin Shinawatra stock-trading strategy well before the Shin Corp sale and military coup. But now the investigation target has turned on him, he has resorted to the criminal defamation law and Isra News agency is risking its credibility and sterling journalistic reputation by stonewalling.

Muckraking editor Thanapol Eawsakul of controversial Fa Diew Kan first outed the accused journalist. His Facebook post included a scanned letter on V&T Law Office stationery promising a criminal defamation lawsuit against anyone naming the accused man. After that, Marshall published the photo and accusation.

This chain of events has been abysmally handled at every level. Ms Vimolphan should have instituted an investigation and focused immediately on the claimed victims. The accused, whose highly admirable investigative reporting has targeted both the famous and their little-known victims, should have backed such a probe. If he is innocent or himself the target of malicious attacks, it would quickly come out. The accused has millions of friends, and can count on an honest investigation.

Nor has the TJA gained credibility or glory. Instead of reporting all the facts, it seems to have impeded some. Journalists including Thanapol and Marshall are fully capable of judging the legal risks.

The saga stands to do irreparable harm to the accused who has filed a complaint against Marshall under the misused, often-abused defamation law. That law is debased in the eyes of the public because it so often has tried to intimidate brave reporters such as the accused himself.

The accused and the Isra Institute must let the facts emerge. Similarly, the TJA should speed up its fact-finding mission to unearth the truth and not protect the wrongdoer.

Isra is one of the most trusted names in the Thai media. It therefore should maintain its credibility by giving its full cooperation to the probe by the TJA.

Any cover-up will deal press credibility a body blow.

Isra News agency is risking its credibility and sterling journalistic reputation by stonewalling.