Stay 5 metres away and bow before and after a photo of the PM – new media guidelines

The Thai PM has issued new guidelines as how and when to photograph him. At the same time the PM’s spokesperson has set new ‘ethical’ guidelines for media pressers with the PM.

New formalities issued by the 3rd division of the Special Branch police were distributed to members of the press at yesterday’s Impact Exhibition Centre event where the PM was presiding over the opening of Thailand Social Expo 2018.

The new formalities include a dress code and a code of conduct that photographers must observe when taking pictures of the PM – photographers must be at least five metres from the prime minister; must not take pictures of the prime minister while he is ascending or descending stairs; must not take pictures of the prime minister while he is eating; must not take pictures directly in front of the prime minister as he is in the reception room; must bow the prime minister before and after taking his pictures and must behave ‘properly;.

Thai PBS reports that photographers were surprised after arriving at the Impact Exhibition Centre that they were required to fill a form with their names, their office locations, office phone numbers and their ID card numbers before they were allowed into the exhibition hall.

Government spokesman Lt-Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd later explained that the formalities were issued three years ago and he didn’t understand why they were distributed now, triggering criticism among media media members.

He said the PM thought the Special Branch police had the best of intentions to upgrade the performance of the media to an ‘international standard’ and they also wanted to provide the best security protection to the prime minister.

He added that the prime minister had instructed the Special Branch police to reconsider deleting the requirement for photographers to bow at him, noting that it was the right of each individual to show respect to anybody.

SOURCE: Thai PBS